Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 30, 2025
05:51
Exploring the Use of Isolated Expressions and Film Clips to Evaluate Emotion Recognition by People with Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 15, 2016
9.4K
The visual perception of emotion from masks
J Farley Norman1, Sydney P Wheeler2
1Department of Psychological Sciences, Ogden College of Science and Engineering, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States of America.
Plos One
|January 16, 2020
Summary
This study shows that non-Japanese masks effectively convey emotions like happiness and sadness. Artists skillfully included facial cues to reliably signal emotions, enhancing mask-based emotional perception.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Anthropology
- Art History
Background:
- Masks are prevalent across cultures, yet their capacity for conveying emotion beyond Japanese Noh masks is understudied.
- Understanding the visual semiotics of masks is crucial for cross-cultural communication and psychological studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the general effectiveness of diverse, non-Japanese masks in eliciting perceptions of six basic emotions.
- To determine if artistic inclusion of facial features influences emotional perception from masks.
Main Methods:
- Fifty-one adults visually evaluated 32 masks from various global cultures.
- Participants rated each mask on happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.
Main Results:
- Masks significantly elicited varied perceptions of all six emotions.
- The effectiveness of masks in conveying emotion correlated with the inclusion of recognizable facial features.
Conclusions:
- Non-Japanese masks can effectively communicate a range of human emotions.
- Artistic representation of facial cues is key to a mask's ability to convey emotion.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Facial Feedback Hypothesis
490
Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role...
490
01:20Labeling Emotion
560
Emotional labeling is a cognitive process that involves identifying and naming one's emotions, such as anger, fear, happiness, or sadness. It allows individuals to recognize and express their internal emotional states, a critical aspect of emotional regulation and communication. Labeling emotions requires more than mere recognition; it also involves drawing upon memory and contextual cues to understand the current situation and apply a corresponding emotional label. For instance, feeling...
560
01:26Emotional Expression
850
Emotional expression encompasses how individuals convey their emotions through verbal communication and non-verbal cues. These non-verbal actions include facial expressions, body language, and physical gestures, such as frowning or smiling. Among these, facial expressions play a crucial role in emotional expression and are understood universally, indicating a biological basis for how humans communicate emotions.
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
850
01:25Factors Affecting Perception
2.5K
Perception is influenced by perceptual set, context, motivation, and emotion. Perceptual set, or perceptual expectancy, refers to the tendency to perceive things in a particular way, influenced by previous experiences and expectations. This phenomenon affects the interpretation of stimuli, creating a set of mental tendencies and assumptions that impact sensory perceptions of sound, taste, touch, and sight.
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
An illustrative example of a perceptual set is the scenario where an airline pilot told...
2.5K
01:16Physiological Theories: James-Lange Theory of Emotion
1.8K
The James-Lange theory of emotion, proposed by William James and Carl Lange in the late 19th century, asserts that emotions are the result of physiological reactions to external stimuli. Contrary to the traditional view, which suggests that emotions directly arise from the perception of stimuli, this theory proposes that emotions occur as a consequence of the body's responses to such stimuli. According to this framework, an emotional experience is a cognitive interpretation of physiological...
1.8K
01:20Physiology of Emotion
3.0K
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
3.0K