Impact of face masks and sunglasses on emotion recognition in South Koreans

Due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks has become essential for social interaction, disturbing emotion recognition in daily life. In the present study, a total of 39 Korean participants (female = 20, mean age = 24.2 years) inferred seven emotions (happiness, surprise, fear, sadness, disgust, anger, surprise, and neutral) from uncovered, mask-covered, sunglasses-covered faces. The recognition rates were the lowest under mask conditions, followed by the sunglasses and uncovered conditions. In identifying emotions, different emotion types were associated with different areas of the face. Specifically, the mouth was the most critical area for happiness, surprise, sadness, disgust, and anger recognition, but fear was most recognized from the eyes. By simultaneously comparing faces with different parts covered, we were able to more accurately examine the impact of different facial areas on emotion recognition. We discuss the potential cultural differences and the ways in which individuals can cope with communication in which facial expressions are paramount.

Automated summary

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, wearing masks has become essential for social interaction, affecting the recognition of emotions in daily life. A study conducted on 39 Korean participants found that the recognition rates for emotions were the lowest when faces were covered with masks, followed by sunglasses and uncovered faces. Different areas of the face were associated with different emotion types, with the mouth being critical for recognizing happiness, surprise, sadness, disgust, and anger, while the eyes were crucial for recognizing fear. By comparing faces with different parts covered, the study provided a more accurate understanding of the impact of facial areas on emotion recognition. The study also discussed potential cultural differences and ways individuals can adapt to communication that emphasizes facial expressions.