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Staring at Disfigured Faces Is 'Instinctive'

Distorted or frozen features trigger a 'primal response' in viewers, scientists believe

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted May 26, 2009 2:42 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The stares people like face transplant patient Connie Culp deal with are likely the result of instinct rather than insensitivity, Wired reports. Scientists believe that disfigured faces flummox the screening system the brain has developed to judge whether a person poses a potential threat, causing people to become transfixed when they spot a disfigured person.

The brain stores patterns of facial expressions so that a quick glance can tell whether they may be unsafe, explained an expert. But "when a face is distorted, we have no pattern to match that," she said.

Doctors who participated in the nation's first near-total face transplant watch an animation of the procedure at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.
Doctors who participated in the nation's first near-total face transplant watch an animation of the procedure at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio.   (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Experts believe distorted or unmoving faces trigger a primal staring response.
Experts believe distorted or unmoving faces trigger a primal staring response.   (Shutter Stock)
Connie Culp, who underwent the first face transplant surgery in the US, speaks to the media at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic earlier this month.
Connie Culp, who underwent the first face transplant surgery in the US, speaks to the media at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic earlier this month.   (AP Photo/Amy Sancetta)
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We stare. Even if you don’t want to, even if your better judgment tells you ‘I need to be nice to this person.' It goes back to a very primal thing. - Facial expression expert Erika Rosenberg

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 4 comments
luluzz
May 27, 2009 1:28 AM CDT
Thanks for your comments, they mean a lot. It was devastating. The spinal cord injury didn't hurt as much as being mocked and stared at. I still carry the scars and after effects of both, but I don't consider myself a victim, just someone with different challenges and opportunities. Life has been a real trip.
riffran
May 26, 2009 12:53 PM CDT
why don't you ask "IT"?????.........how horrible, those people should be ashamed....having a halo and a neck brace is a medical procedure for a potentially devastating accident.....glad to hear you didn't wind op as a para or quadraplegic...desert......spinal cord injury and trauma can be quite awful........I still can't beleive the asshat that did that to poor connie got only seven years
kokuaguy
May 26, 2009 8:10 AM CDT
Mahalo for sharing this story, wingz. These instinctual "first reactions" don't prevent rational, caring individuals from reaching out with warmth and compassion, "on second thought."

Face transplant patient hopes to foster acceptance of disfgurements
The Scotsman

 
human evolution • face recognition • face transplant • facial expressions • Connie Culp

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