Function of Congruent Facial Responses to Smiling and Frowning

The congruent facial response of a receiver may change a sender's facial display in subsequent facial communication. Senders were requested to smile and frown at a receiver of computer-synthesized animation and to rate how likeable the receiver was after the “interaction.” It was observed that a congruent facial response maintained the sender's facial expression longer than an incongruent response did. The results of the questionnaire revealed that senders reported a greater likeability for smiling receivers than for those who frowned. Likeability ratings did not depend on the congruency of the receiver's response but simply on whether the receiver was smiling or frowning.