Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Psychological distress associated with disfiguring facial lesions is common. However, whilst the intrusive behaviour of observers is commonly reported, for example, staring, comments and questions, these factors which may influence the judgements of observers have not been well described. This is important as it may influence a subject's perception of how their appearance is viewed by the external world. This study is the first to investigate age and gender differences when measuring the importance of location in judgements about facial disfigurement. Observers were asked to rank the impact of simulated lesions in different positions on the face of Caucasian subjects. Age and gender varied in both groups. Our results show that lesions on the young and female subjects are ranked as having a greater impact than those on the old and male subjects. Lesions on central facial features have a higher impact than those located more peripherally. Both of these findings were not significantly influenced by observer age or gender. These results are discussed in terms of culturally derived attributions about appearance. It is also suggested that there is a scope to use feedback on how disfigurement is viewed by others as a therapeutic tool in clinical settings.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.bjps.2008.07.043

Type

Journal article

Journal

J plast reconstr aesthet surg

Publication Date

01/2010

Volume

63

Pages

73 - 77

Keywords

Adult, Age Factors, Face, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Judgment, Male, Middle Aged, Photography, Sex Factors, Social Perception, Statistics, Nonparametric, Visual Perception