Validation of computer simulations for effects of eye gaze, sex, facial expression, and posture on perceived threat.

Two experiments were done to ascertain how well computer images of people communicated threat through the nonverbal cues of eye gaze, sex, facial expression, and posture. Results indicated the computer images produced valid and generalizable results. The strongest effects on threat were found for facial expression and posture. Smaller effects were found for sex and direction of eye gaze.