IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: The Science of Face Perception

by Vicki & Andrew Young Bruce ‧ RELEASE DATE: Dec. 1, 1998

Evolution has bestowed a remarkably expressive face on humans, and we have used it to communicate a dazzlingly wide variety of information to one another.. The authors, both psychologists and longtime researchers in the field of how we express messages with our faces and how we decipher them, have provided a cogent summary of what is known, as well as some interesting speculation on what seems likely. Because the book was originally written to accompany an exhibit at the Scottish National Gallery, it features a wide and appealing variety of illustrations drawn from artworks, in addition to a number of photographs, some computer-enhanced. The manner in which we use information derived from our reactions to faces to make decisions on concerns as disparate as truthfulness and sexual appeal, and the means by which the brain processes data drawn from our perpetual study of the faces around us are covered in depth here. While the authors write with clarity, the detail of the study and the emphasis on scientific investigation make this a work of interest primarily to students and others involved in some aspect of the field, though a serious layperson should find much here of interest. A handsomely presented report on an emerging field of research.

Pub Date: Dec. 1, 1998

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Oxford Univ.

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1998

Categories: NONFICTION