Dash Cam Facial Expressions
Here is a fascinating study of young drivers and the facial expressions they make while driving. Watch them drive and face some seriously close calls.
What is surprising is their facial expressions seem muted considering the situation.
I hear Dr. Drew Pinsky in my head saying that young people under the age of 25 haven’t developed fully in the brain, and therefore don’t make good decisions.
Here is a research article that talks specifically about this. In it, they say, “The frontal lobe, tasked with decision making, planning, judgement, expression of emotions and impulse control may not be fully mature until the mid-20s.”
That may explain it…
Do you have a video of drivers over 25 for comparison?
Dr Drew in the Hizzy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gb96bg9XpE
Weird, I didn’t see this article here till today. Not sure how I missed it.
I think the muted reaction is partly due to the freeze-then-flight-or-fight danger response and also the brain still processing information. Think of yourself as a caveman gathering berries or whatever and you notice a tiger or bear nearby. Your immediate reaction is to freeze, but I imaging your facial expressions would be muted until you get to safety or it becomes more of a threat.
A personal example is last 2 times I was in a serious close call I had to go from 50+ and 35+ mph to zero as quickly as possible. The first time my reaction was to break + arm bar the passenger so they don’t hit the dash, then control the steering as much as I can, and I remember glancing in the rear view mirror to check of cars rear ending me. Second time same thing except instead of the arm bar (no passenger) I held down the horn. I can’t tell you my facial expressions with certainty, but I know I didn’t feel the emotions of fear and shock as it was happening; I was too busy thinking and reacting. When I was out of danger I’m sure I was mostly displaying relief, but I also remember feeling fear and shock about what had just happened as well. I wonder what my face looked like then.
It’s not age that has anything to do with the emotions… age might be a factor in why they’re doing the stupid things they’re doing before they crash (texting, on the phone, zoning out, not paying attention to the road in general) but their emotional reaction is more due to a fight-or-flight response than anything.
Fight-or-flight generally suppresses emotional expression other than anxiety/anger.