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The Influence of Disfigurement on Conversational Recall

University of Southampton, UK, svs1{at}soton.ac.uk

Catherine Furness

University of Southampton, UK

Two experiments are reported which examine the degree to which conversational recall is affected by facial disfigurement. In Experiment 1, participants viewed a video interview and then immediately recalled the information given by the speaker. Recall fell from 68 per cent to 52 per cent when a fake disfigurement was visible on the speaker's face. In Experiment 2, these results were replicated in a more realistic simulated webcam interaction. Again, immediate conversational recall fell substantially from 85 per cent to 51 per cent when the speaker had a fake disfigurement. In both experiments, however, overt reactions through personality ratings were unaffected by appearance. Reasons for such reactions are discussed, together with the value to the individual in knowing and expecting such reactions.

Key Words: conversational recall • distraction • facial disfigurement • threat perception

Journal of Health Psychology, Vol. 13, No. 8, 1113-1118 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1359105308095965


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