Individual differences affecting dynamic emotion authenticity perception

People can produce facsimiles of genuine emotional displays for strategic purposes, deceiving others about their true emotions if necessary. The ability to determine if an emotional display is genuine or deceptive is vital in interpersonal communication. The scientific literature strongly points to three constructs related to emotion perception: Empathy, Theory of Mind, and Alexithymia. However, previous research relating these traits to emotion recognition has largely ignored the importance of realistic, dynamic expressions which have been shown to be important for understanding naturalistic emotion perception and judgment. In this pre-registered study (https://osf.io/fntr8), we recruited 600 individuals and examined if such traits were associated with their ability to accurately judge emotion authenticity. Using Bayesian multiple regressions, we explore the underlying relationships affecting accurate inferences of dynamic facial expressions, allowing us to construct models that consider which elements of the facial expressions play a greater role in judgment, and intervention methods to improve performance. Understanding the factors that may impede (or foster) accurate emotion perception in natural settings is key to improving social cohesion, individual wellbeing, and community building. This work is part of a larger endeavour aimed to assist people with difficulties in this area, serving as a basis for future diagnostic and intervention research. Uncovering the processes by which individuals judge the emotional authenticity of others is of high applicable value and can contribute to the development of methods to improve quick and effective emotional communication