Factors affecting the accuracy of facial affect recognition.

The effect of subjects' locus of control of reinforcement and self-monitoring orientations on their ability to identify the emotional meaning of facial expressions was evaluated under competitive and noncompetitive instructions. On the basis of social learning principles, it was predicted that internally controlled, high-self-monitoring American college students would be the most accurate; the results confirmed the prediction. The impact of locus of control and self-monitoring orientations was greatest on male subjects who had received competitive instructions. In addition, female subjects were more accurate than male subjects, and positive emotions were more often correctly identified than negative ones.