The Temporal Dimension of Trust: Investigating the Influence of Facial Trustworthiness on Time Perception

Time perception plays a crucial role in human cognition and social interactions. While research has explored how emotional facial expressions influence time perception, the impact of facial trustworthiness remains unexplored. This study investigates the effect of facial trustworthiness on time perception using a temporal bisection task. Eighty-two participants were presented with computer-generated faces varying in trustworthiness levels, displayed for durations between 2 and 5 seconds. Participants categorized these durations as "short" or "long" relative to learned standards. A manipulation check validated the perceived trustworthiness of the stimuli. The study aimed to determine whether and how facial trustworthiness influences subjective time perception. Results revealed a significant main effect of facial trustworthiness on time perception, with more trustworthy faces associated with shorter perceived durations. This effect was most pronounced for intermediate durations (3-4 seconds). Analysis of the Point of Subjective Equality (PSE) further supported these findings. The study concludes that facial trustworthiness can subtly but significantly modulate time perception, suggesting a complex interplay between social cognition and temporal processing. These findings have implications for understanding social decision-making in time-sensitive contexts and contribute to our knowledge of how social cues influence fundamental cognitive processes.