Individuals differ in how much they notice and value their emotions, a trait called attention to emotion. But do individual differences in attention to one's own emotions relate to the way we perceive emotional intensity and emotional genuineness in other people's faces? Although previous research suggests that individuals higher in attention to emotion may either (a) differentiate emotion cues more precisely or (b) overemphasize the presence of emotion cues, my research did not find that attention to emotion significantly related to either differentiated or overemphasized ratings of emotional intensity and genuineness.

In future research, I am interested in examining the social and personal implications of believing oneself to be "unemotional". Indeed, some individuals tend not to show or feel much emotion in general, which may place them at a  disadvantage when forming new social connections. My work aims to uncover ways for less emotional individuals to maximize their well-being and better connect with others.