The effect of wearing a black sanitary-mask on the person perception and perceived facial attractiveness

Abstract

Recent study has demonstrated the sanitary-mask effect on person perception and perceived facial attractiveness (Miyazaki & Kawahara, 2016). The present study focuses on the effects of the colors of sanitary mask (black/white) on such perceptions. Specifically, we measured the implicit/explicit attitudes (e.g., good-bad) and facial attractiveness for male faces wearing a black or white sanitary-mask. The result showed that the faces wearing the black sanitary-mask were negatively perceived (e.g., bad impression and unhealthy). Also, the attractive faces wearing the black sanitary-mask were perceived as less attractive than the same faces wearing the white one. The present study demonstrates not only the sanitary mask effect but also the specific effect of the sanitary mask’s color on the person perception and perceived facial attractiveness. We suggest that the familiarity of mask’s color plays a critical role in person perception and perceived facial attractiveness. Males who wear sanitary-masks of unfamiliar color (e.g., black) are perceived negatively relative to those who wear masks of familiar color (e.g., white).