Sex of expresser and correct perception of facial expressions of emotion.

The influence of the sex of the expresser was examined in relation to correct perception of facial expressions by the receiver. Two hundred and twenty-seven college students (114 women, 103 men) judged seven facial expressions, anger, contempt, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise, by choosing the appropriate emotion name from a list of six Czech options, on men and women's faces. No significant difference was found between rates of correct perception of facial expressions on the faces of women and on the faces of men. The facial expression of fear was better recognized on the man's face than on the woman's face in this set of subjects. The results do not support the hypothesis of more accurate recognition of facial expressions on women's faces than on men's faces.