The simple geometric features of a downward-pointing triangle can make us feel threatened, scientists have revealed.

Researchers from Warwick University asked thirty volunteers to rate hundreds of pictures of faces that were surrounded by large triangles.

When a downward-pointing triangle appeared, people were more hesitant to identify the face as positive.

“Our study shows downward-pointing triangles in particular convey negative emotions and we pick up on them quickly and perceive them as a threat,” said Dr. Derrick Watson of the psychology department.

Previous studies have found that people can identify sad or angry faces out of a crowd more quickly than positive ones.

The study results could also explain why classic bad characters from cartoons often have pointy chins and sharp eyebrows, co-author Dr. Elisabeth Blagrove explained.

The study appears in the journal Emotion, published by the American Psychological Association.



By Sim Guk-by
Intern Reporter

(simgukby@heraldcorp.com)