Who ever thought that a stale facial expression would have people feeling all types of ways, even to the extent of figuring out if their resting bitch face says something about what others may assume. We’ve all had carried this expression, but some just can’t shake it off their face too easily.
Social media has captured memes of Kanye West, Tina Knowles and many more celebrities who for the most part are expressionless most of the time, now scientists are starting to take note and now there’s an actual device that will read your face in no time, called the FaceReader.
According to CNN News, in October 2015 a study was conducted by using a FaceReader
software that retrieves information, and then a percentage of your facial expression shows if you are more or less likely showing a “contempt” expression versus a happy one. Scientists from Noldus Information Technology, Abe Macbeth and Jason Rogers are skilled at observational/behavioral expressions and decided to start with celebrities like Kanye West, Kristen Stewart and even Queen Elizabeth II to determine this!
“We were looking to see if anything popped out,” Macbeth said. “Our software is objective. It’s not prone to human subjectivity like we are.”
Most who have RBF show a 97% neutral expression and the other 3% gives mixed signals, which is why contempt (feelling that something is not worthy) is the best word these behavioral scientists can describe this look.
It’s said that cultural differences and even genetics may play a huge role in this behavior.
“The biggest predictor of those who have RBF is if your parents have it,” David B. Givens, director of the Center of Nonverbal Studies.
There is still more research to be done, because Macbeth and Rogers want to not just know who has RBF, but why people get offended when approached with such a dry face!
“We’ve all heard the anecdotal evidence of people being told to smile more … there’s something that is unconsciously showing up on people’s faces when people think they are just being neutral,” Macbeth said.
Are you still not sure if you suffer from the RBF condition? Just send in a photo to Noldus Information Technology to find out!
Source:
http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/03/health/resting-bitch-face-research-irpt/index.html
TSR Intern: Charise W.
Instagram: @planet_reese
