Welcome back to another instalment of Psychology Terms Made Easy 🙌! Have you ever thought about what it means for a facial expression to be prototypical? When we talk about prototypicality in facial expressions, we’re referring to typical facial characteristics and muscle movements that are commonly seen in stereotyped representations of emotions. Take happiness, for example 😁. Close your eyes and imagine someone feeling happy. Did you imagine them smiling 😊, or squinting their eyes 👀? These are typical facial characteristics used when expressing happiness!
Watch this video created by former Directed Lab student Paige Stockley to learn more about prototypicality!
