Facial prominence in choice of Orkut´s photos and the empathy´s level: comparison between genders and academicals´ courses

• Grant number: 08/05415-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2009
• End date: March 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Psychology - Experimental Psychology
• Principal Investigator: Sandro Caramaschi
• Grantee: Luciana Paulino Rimoldi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências (FC). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Bauru. Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Communication is a key factor to the survival of the species, since through it the encoding and emission of messages occur. It may be verbal, being characterized by the use of written or spoken words, or non-verbal, in which individuals are able to express themselves through body posture, facial expressions, the distance between a person and another, the appearance, among other factors. Many studies about aspects that can influence the way people use their space dimension, known as proxemics were made. Rimoldi et al (2007) found that there are significant differences between the facial prominence in the photos of men and women found in the Orkut, a site of relationships. These data support the idea put forward by some authors, in which even without manipulation of other people, men tend to choose photos that show a closer range comparing with women. So, to continue the first study made by Rimoldi et al (2007), the present study intends to verify the existence of relationship between the facial prominence of photos selected by the participants to be placed on page Orkut and the results presented by Multidimensional Scale of Interpersonal Reactivity of Davis (EMRI). The research will be held with students of both sexes of exact and human sciences to verify if there is relationship between the choice of a photo of higher or lower prominence with the fact that the person be more or less empathic. (AU)