DO FACIAL EXPRESSIONS SIGNAL SPECIFIC EMOTIONS - JUDGING EMOTION FROMTHE FACE IN CONTEXT

Certain facial expressions have been theorized to be easily recognizab le signals of specific emotions. If so, these expressions should overr ide situationally based expectations used by a person in attributing a n emotion to another. An alternative account is offered in which the f ace provides information relevant to emotion but does not signal a spe cific emotion. Therefore, in specified circumstances, situational rath er than facial information was predicted to determine the judged emoti on. This prediction was supported in 3 studies-indeed, in each of the 22 cases examined (e.g., a person in a frightening situation but displ aying a reported ''facial expression of anger'' was judged as afraid). Situational information was especially influential when it suggested a nonbasic emotion (e.g., a person in a painful situation but displayi ng a ''facial expression of fear'' was judged as in pain).