Examining in-session expressions of emotions with speech/vocal acoustic measures: an introductory guide

Emotion-sensitive speech/vocal acoustic measures are now available to study emotions expressed during psychotherapy sessions. This paper highlights the feasibility of employing such acoustic parameters alongside well-known self-report and observer ratings of emotions. The acoustic method is presented together with findings of the acoustic profiles of discrete emotions. The primary goal, however, is to introduce researchers to this measurement procedure: an introductory guide provides examples of how to generate an acoustical analysis of emotionally loaded vocal expressions. The procedures have been adapted to the study of emotions typically aroused in psychotherapy such as anger and sadness.