Combining traits into a face: A reverse correlation approach

The integration of multiple traits into a unitary impression has been extensively investigated in impression formation research. However, because the focus has typically been on the verbal output of the formed impressions, little is known about how impressions resulting from different trait combinations impact perceivers’ expectations about facial content. Here, we offer initial evidence about how trait integration occurs in social face perception. In two studies, we used a reverse correlation paradigm to obtain face images reflecting participants’ expectations about facial content for different trait combinations of dominance and trustworthiness. Analyses of the physical and perceived content of these images suggest that: (a) trustworthiness information outweighs dominance information in expectations about facial content; and (b) the face content derived from any trait combination contains information that goes beyond the content associated with each separate trait. These findings extend the research on trait integration to social face perception.