title: Social connection modulates perceptions of animacy.
abstract: Human survival depends on identifying targets potentially capable of engaging in meaningful social connection. Using sets of morphed images created from animate (human) and inanimate (doll) faces, we found converging evidence across two studies showing that the motivation to connect with other people systematically alters the interpretation of the physical features that signal that a face is alive. Specifically, in their efforts to find and connect with other social agents, individuals who feel socially disconnected actually decrease their thresholds for what it means to be alive, consistently observing animacy when fewer definitively human cues are present. From an evolutionary perspective, overattributing animacy may be an adaptive strategy that allows people to cast a wide net when identifying possible sources of social connection and maximize their opportunities to renew social relationships.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College Department of Psychology, Harvard University kpowers@fas.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Katherine E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Powers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Worsham
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.
authors.forename: Jonathan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.
authors.forename: Thalia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wheatley
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College.
authors.forename: Todd F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Heatherton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005145:Face; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008132:Loneliness; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009769:Object Attachment; D012934:Social Isolation; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: face perception; interpersonal relationships; loneliness; motivation; social perception