Botox and the Art of Empathetic Design in UXD

The Internet is full of malicious comments, which seems to be an inevitable reality. However, an interesting phenomenon in the early days of SitePoint website caught our attention: the comment section of articles showing author's avatar in articles is often more rational and friendly than articles without avatar.

We found that authors using comics or cartoon avatars received fewer negative comments than those who did not. Authors who use logos or non-character graphics are more likely to induce aggressive and impolite feedback.

This does not mean that the avatar completely avoids criticism—in fact, you don't want it. But criticism is often more objective and constructive.

What exactly happened?

A 2011 study published in the Journal of Social Psychological & Personality Science Journal, asked subjects to view a series of faces and describe the mood. This study aims to test their ability to imagine others’ feelings—that is, what we call empathy.

While the results vary from person to person, most people are able to accurately identify the facial expressions they see.

Interestingly, after analyzing the video records tested by each user, it was found that each subject briefly mimicked the expression they saw in the photos before answering the question.

These so-called "micro-expressions" are completely unconscious and involuntary, usually difficult to detect with the naked eye, but seem to help the subjects understand what they are seeing.

One obvious question is: What happens if we block these micro-expressions?

Botoxin only acts on the skin surface

A few months later, the same subject received a Botox injection before another round of tests. Botox is known to work by paralyzing the small muscles around the eyes and mouth. This reduces the appearance of wrinkles, but also prevents micro-expressions.

Surprisingly, these Botox-injected subjects had significantly reduced their ability to interpret the faces they saw. Some kind of feedback loop is broken and their empathy ability is declining.

It seems that when we imitate facial expressions on our bodies, the memory of this emotional "feeling" is triggered. It can be said that we enter their "heart" by entering their "face".

Integrate empathy into our user interface

The "inner sound" we hear when we read changes when we connect the text to nearby faces. I made the animation below to show this. This beautiful Dorothy Parker introduction is presented in three ways:

1. Plain text
2. Next to a vibrant, radiant Parker
3. Next to a sad, almost broken Parker

You can see that the same introduction "feels" very different when the image changes. Something in our mind has changed.

We all use many faces in our design work, but I think it is especially useful to enhance user empathy in two aspects:

1. Every type of edited text: blog, comment, forum, comment thread, etc. Include a face at any time when presenting ideas that you want your users to pay attention and respect. Obviously, authors who smile easily and confidently are more likely to trigger relaxed, smiling, confident readers.
2. Recommended words and introduction: Recommended words are completely related to social identity. The more we can help users understand the recommended authors, the more they value these discourses.

Trail

Everyone is a product of their growing environment, with their own set of preferences and prejudices. It's an inaccurate science, but - if you have a choice - presenting readers with content from users similar to their readers (age, gender, and region) may result in a more empathetic response.

Of course, avoid having your users inject Botox if you can.

Originally published in SitePoint Design Newsletter

FAQs about Botox and empathy design

How does Botox affect our empathy?

Botoxin is a neurotoxin commonly used for cosmetic purposes and it may affect our empathy capabilities. This is because it numbs the muscles we use to express emotions, thus destroying the feedback loop between facial expressions and feelings. This disruption makes it harder for us to understand and share what others feel, and it is a key component of empathy.

What is empathy design and what does it have to do with Botox?

Embroidered design is a user-centered design method that involves understanding and meeting user needs and experiences. Its relationship with Botox is that Botox may affect our empathy capabilities, which in turn affects the way we design products and services. For example, if designers have difficulty engaging in empathy due to injections of Botox, they may find it difficult to understand and meet the needs of users.

Will Botox injection on the forehead change how our brains deal with emotions?

Yes, studies have shown that injections of Botox on the forehead can change how our brains process emotions. This is because these injections paralyze the muscles we use to express emotions, thus destroying the feedback loop between facial expressions and feelings. This disruption changes the way we perceive and respond to emotions.

How does empathy design inspire innovation?

Embroidered design can inspire innovation by inspiring designers to create products and services that truly meet user needs and experience. By understanding and putting yourself in the shoes of the user, designers can identify unmet needs and innovation opportunities that they may not have realized before.

Does Botox kill our ability to develop empathy?

While Botox may affect our empathy ability, it is unlikely that it will completely kill our ability to generate empathy. This is because empathy is a complex process that involves more than just our facial expressions. It also includes our ability to understand and share other people’s feelings, which does not depend entirely on our facial expressions.

What role does empathy play in design?

Empathy plays a crucial role in design. It enables designers to understand and meet user needs and experiences, thereby creating more effective and user-friendly products and services. Without empathy, designers may find it difficult to create products and services that truly meet users’ needs.

Does Botox affect our emotional response?

Yes, studies have shown that Botox affects our emotional response. This is because it numbs the muscles we use to express emotions, thus destroying the feedback loop between facial expressions and feelings. This disruption changes the way we perceive and respond to emotions.

How do we use empathy design to improve our products and services?

We can use empathetic design to improve our products and services by understanding and meeting the needs and experiences of our users. This includes observing and interacting with users, putting themselves in their shoes and utilizing this understanding to guide our design decisions.

Will Botox affect our ability to design empathically?

It's possible, yes. If Botox affects our empathy ability, it may also affect our ability to design empathically. This is because empathy design involves understanding and meeting the needs and experiences of users, which requires empathy.

What is the potential impact of Botox on our social interactions?

Botulinum may influence our social interactions by affecting our ability to express and perceive emotions. This makes it harder for us to understand and share what others feel, which is a key component of social interaction.

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