Journal
PERCEPTION
Volume 50, Issue 10, Pages 876-889Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1177/03010066211045172
Keywords
face perception; face masks; trait impressions; race; trustworthiness
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The study found that masks can increase perceived trustworthiness of wearers, reduce the impact of face race on judgments, and also increase perceived attractiveness. However, masks had no effect on the perception of dominance/competence. Further research is needed to explore the effects of masks on social perceptions.
As face masks have become more commonplace in many regions due to COVID-19, concerns have been raised about their effects on the perception of mask wearers and social cohesion more broadly, including racial profiling. In two studies we examined the effects of masks on social judgments of mask wearers, and whether masks have different effects on judgments of Black and White faces. Participants rated 20 Black and 20 White faces with and without masks on trustworthiness/approachability (Studies 1 and 2) and on dominance/competence and attractiveness (Study 2). In both studies masks increased perceived trustworthiness and reduced the effect of face race on judgments. Masks also increased perceived attractiveness, but had no effect on the perception of dominance/competence. Overall, this study found no negative effects of face masks on judgments of mask wearers, though further research is needed.
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