2006/04/01 by Derek M. Isaacowitz · 2 citations
Psychology · Neuroscience · #Aging and Gerontology Research #Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies #Face Recognition and Perception #Gaze #Psychology #Cognitive psychology #Mood #Pessimism #Eye tracking #Context (archaeology) #Social psychology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.0963-7214.2006.00409.x
openalex publication_date 2006/04/01 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
How does gaze relate to psychological properties of the gazer? Studies using eye tracking reveal robust group differences in gaze toward emotional information: Optimists gaze less at negative, unpleasant images than do pessimists, and older individuals look away from negative faces and toward happy faces. These group differences appear to reflect an underlying motivation to achieve and maintain good moods by directing attention to mood-facilitating stimuli. Maintaining a positive mood is only one goal-related context that influences visual attention; recent work has also suggested that other goal states can impact gaze. Gaze therefore is a tool of motivation, directing gazers toward stimuli that are consistent with their goals and away from information that will not facilitate goal achievement.