This study examines whether or not gender plays a role in the identification of facial expressions. More importantly, the research is focusing on how accurately males and females are able to identify the universal facial indicators associated with the seven universal emotions: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust, anger, contempt and surprise. Young adults, ages 18-35 (N=117), both males and females (f=60, m=57), will be evaluated through a quantitative measure (questionnaire) and deductive reasoning, using the seven facial indicators of emotion.
Hypothesis 1 (Women are more accurate at identifying facial expressions than men), showed no significant results, therefore, there was no gender difference in facial expression identification accuracy.
Hypothesis 2 (Women in their 30s (30-35-year olds) will be more accurate in identifying the universal facial expressions, than men in their 30s (30-35-year olds), showed no significant results, therefore, there is no gender difference in facial expression identification between men and women of ages 30-35.
Regarding age and identification accuracy, results showed that people who are 24-29 years old and 30-35 years old, are less likely to identify disgust incorrectly compared to 18-23-year olds.
Finally, people who are in age groups 18-23 and 24-29 had statistically equal accuracy levels for happiness. People between the ages 30-35 had significantly higher level of accuracy for happiness, compared to other age groups.