The Perception Lab
The Perception Lab is run by Dave Perrett. We are based in the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Our research is funded by the ESRC, BBSRC, S.I.N.A.P.S.E, and the EPSRC.
In the lab, we investigate the many facets of face perception... what makes one person appear more trustworthy and cooperative than another? What is the relationship between health and attractiveness, and which physiological factors influence this relationship? How big do differences between facial characteristics have to be for us to perceive them? These are just a few of the topics we are interested in.
Use the links above to find out more about us and our work, or click HERE to participate in one of our experiments!
Selected Recent Publications
Henderson AJ, Holzleitner IJ, Talamas SN, Perrett DI. (2016) Perception of health from facial cues. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. Abstract
Talamas, S.N., Mavor, K. I., Axelsson, J., Sundelin, T., & Perrett, D. I. (2016). Eyelid-openness and mouth curvature influence perceived intelligence beyond attractiveness. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. Abstract
Talamas, S.N., Mavor, K. I., & Perrett, D. I. (2016). Blinded by beauty: Attractiveness bias and accurate perceptions of academic performance. Public Library of Science One. Available Online
Talamas, S.N., Mavor, K. I., & Perrett, D. I. (2016). Own intelligence and endorsement of the intelligence-attractiveness halo. Personality and Individual Differences. Abstract
Holzleitner, IJ, Hunter, DW, Tiddeman, BP, Seck, A, Re, DE, & Perrett, DI (2014). Men's facial masculinity: when (body) size matters. Perception, 43(11), 1191-1202. Abstract
Batres C & Perrett DI (2014) The Influence of the Digital Divide on Face Preferences in El Salvador: People without Internet Access Prefer More Feminine Men, More Masculine Women, and Women with Higher Adiposity. PLoS ONE 9(7): e100966. Available online
Re, D.E., DeBruine, L.M., Jones, B.C., & Perrett, D.I. (2013). Facial cues to perceived height influence leadership choices in simulated war and peace contexts. Evolutionary Psychology. Available as PDF
Re, D.E., Dzhelyova, M., Holzleitner, I. J., Tigue, C. C., Feinberg, & Perrett, D.I. (2012). Apparent height and body mass index influence perceived leadership ability in three-dimensional faces. Perception. Available as PDF
Re, D.E., & Perrett, D.I. (2012). Concordant preferences for actual height and facial cues to height. Personality and Individual Differences. Available as PDF
Hahn, A.C., Whitehead, R.D., Albrecht, M.A., Lefevre, C.E. & Perrett, D.I. (2012). Hot or not? Thermal reactions to social contact. Biology Letters. Available Online
Lefevre, C. E., Lewis, G. J., Bates, T. C., Dzhelyova, M., Coetzee, V. , Deary, I. J., & Perrett, D. I. (2012). No evidence for sexual dimorphism of facial width-to-height ratio in four large adult samples. Evolution and Human Behavior. Available Online
Whitehead, R.D., Re, D., Xiao, D., Ozakinci, G. & Perrett, D.I. (2012). You are what you eat: Within-subject increases in fruit and vegetable consumption confer beneficial skin-color changes. PLOSone, 7(3), e32988. Available Online
For a full list of publications click here
Recent Media
Men Make Women Glow! BBC coverage of a recent study from the lab
There's An App For That! Face Transformer App for iPhone!
Meet the Royal Heirs (Online Article) Available Via the New Scientist Website
Current Vacancies
There are no current vacancies. However, if you are interested in joining the lab please contact Dave Perrett to discuss possible PhD or Post-Doc opportunities.
