Smiling faces, sometimes they don't tell the truth: Facial expression in the ultimatum game impacts decision making and event-related potentials

Patrick Mussel, Johannes Hewig, John J.B. Allen, Michael G.H. Coles, Wolfgang Miltner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

Facial expressions are an important aspect of social interaction, conveying not only information regarding emotional states, but also regarding intentions, personality, and complex social characteristics. The present research investigates how a smiling, compared to a nonsmiling, expression impacts decision making and underlying cognitive and emotional processes in economic bargaining. Our results using the ultimatum game show that facial expressions have an impact on decision making as well as the feedback-related negativity following the offer. Furthermore, a moderating effect of sex on decision making was observed, with differential effects of facial expressions from male compared to female proposers. It is concluded that predictions of bargaining behavior must account for aspects of social interactions as well as sex effects to obtain more precise estimates of behavior.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)358-363
Number of pages6
JournalPSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY
Volume51
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2014

Keywords

  • Decision making
  • Facial expressions
  • Feedback-related negativity
  • Neuroeconomics
  • Social interaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Neuropsychology and Physiological Psychology
  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Neurology
  • Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Biological Psychiatry

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