Broadly, I study disability prejudice from the perspective of the target and the perceiver.
Specifically, much of my work examines the psychological and social implications of facial paralysis and facial movement disorders. One of the most significant consequences of facial paralysis is a face that is inexpressive of one's emotions and unresponsive during social interaction. There is much evidence to suggest that certain basic facial expressions are universally recognized and displayed across all cultures. This means that people with facial paralysis or facial movement disorders are unable to participate in what is perhaps one of the only universal languages.
Approximately 130,000 Americans develop or are born with facial paralysis each year. There are many conditions that cause facial paralysis, such as Moebius syndrome, Bell’s palsy, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, Lyme disease, stroke, sarcidosis, acoustic neuroma, and facial nerve damage from surgery or trauma. Additionally, other conditions can cause facial movement problems, such as Parkinson’s disease, muscular dystrophy, muscular sclerosis, facial burns, and hemifacial microsomia, Although facial paralysis is a relatively common occurrence, there have been very few studies on the psychological and social effects of facial paralysis.
My research program is threefold: I examine how people with facial movement disorders adapt to their conditions, the way that other people interpret their behavior, and ways to facilitate effective and positive interaction between people with and without facial movement disorders.
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