Ambiguous Bodies: The Role of Displayed Arousal in Emotion [Mis]Perception

Reynolds RM, Novotny E, Lee J, Roth D, Bente G (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 43

Pages Range: 529-548

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1007/s10919-019-00312-3

Abstract

Emotions of other people cannot be experienced directly but are often inferred from a variety of verbal and nonverbal information, including expressive body movement (EBM). Inferring emotional states is critical in social interaction, and questions remain about the factors contributing to ambiguity of EBM. In addressing this issue, researchers have looked to the link between displayed arousal, or the intensity of the emotional expression, and the potency of a nonverbal signal to convey emotional content such as valence or category. This study reports experimental results that address limitations of prior research regarding the ambiguity of EBM. Using motion-capture technology that permits isolation of expressive cues, the results suggest that for displays of anger and happiness (a) the ambiguity of the emotional valence and category increases as a linear function of the displayed arousal, and (b) observers show a negative response bias and greater sensitivity to negative cues. Implications of these findings for research on emotion perception are discussed.

Authors with CRIS profile

Daniel Roth

Involved external institutions

Michigan State University US United States (USA) (US) Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Reynolds, R.M., Novotny, E., Lee, J., Roth, D., & Bente, G. (2019). Ambiguous Bodies: The Role of Displayed Arousal in Emotion [Mis]Perception. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 43(4), 529-548. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10919-019-00312-3

MLA:

Reynolds, R. M., et al. "Ambiguous Bodies: The Role of Displayed Arousal in Emotion [Mis]Perception." Journal of Nonverbal Behavior 43.4 (2019): 529-548.

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