Forster, M. , Leder, H. & Gerger, G.
Faculty of Psychology. University of Vienna. Vienna, Austria.
Faces are very important objects in our visual environment. The eye region - with its importance for a person’s identity, gaze direction, and emotional expression - plays a crucial role in many face-related tasks. Functionally, the eyes are the entry points for visual information processing. However, over a lifetime they lose their effectiveness. This is often corrected by means of eyeglasses. Therefore, beyond physiognomic changes over time, such accessories influence facial appearance in everyday face perception. In a series of experiments, we studied perception and appreciation of faces with and without glasses. We found some data in accordance with the stereotype that glasses make wearers look more intelligent but less attractive. Comparing glasses with and without rims the difference in the amount of area in the face covered by rims affects face perception, recognition, distinctiveness, and the assignment of stereotypes. Moreover, when we measured eye movements, glasses on the face generally directed gaze to the eye regions. Thus, glasses affect how we perceive faces, and in accordance with the old stereotype, they can decrease attractiveness but increase perceived intelligence and trustworthiness. These effects depend on the kind of glasses, probably due to amount they conceal areas of the eye region.