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The significance of sclera colour and eye movement patterns in the Uncanny Valley Effect : an eye-tracking study

Borninkhof, J.L.M. (2022) The significance of sclera colour and eye movement patterns in the Uncanny Valley Effect : an eye-tracking study.

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Abstract:This study is aimed at determining the role of sclera colour and eye movement patterns in the Uncanny Valley Effect (UVE). The UVE describes a phenomenon in which a character’s likeability is dependent on their human likeness. Typically, the more human-like a character is the more likeable they are. However, this effect predicts a sharp drop in likeability when a character is somewhat but not quite human-like. A previous study has made unexpected findings suggesting that white mismatching sclera on ape-like faces may be correlated with this drop in likeability. Therefore, an eye-tracking study was employed, in which a sample of 30 participants was presented with 16 pictures of ape and human faces. One-half of this stimulus set consists of original images, while the other half had been manipulated to have the opposite sclera colour. After the presentation of the stimulus set, uncanniness ratings were collected for each individual picture. Results demonstrated differences in responses to incongruent faces compared to congruent faces. Unexpectedly, the findings show additional differences in uncanniness ratings and eye movement patterns between different types of incongruences. Namely, human-like skulls with ape-like dark sclera were perceived as uncannier and elicited less dwell time on central facial features and a smaller number of total visits than all other conditions.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/91607
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