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Related Experiment Videos

Is the startle reaction an emotion?

P Ekman, W V Friesen, R C Simons

    Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
    |November 1, 1985
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    This study investigated startle reactions, finding that startle is a reflex, not an emotion. Detailed facial muscle analysis supported previous research but clarified the nature of startle responses.

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    Area of Science:

    • Psychology
    • Neuroscience
    • Human Physiology

    Background:

    • The nature of emotional responses, specifically the startle reflex, remains a topic of debate.
    • Previous research, such as Landis and Hunt (1939), has explored startle reactions.
    • Ongoing discussions question whether startle is an emotion or a reflex, involving appraisal theories.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the characteristics of the startle reflex under varying conditions of predictability and volitional control.
    • To differentiate between a genuine startle response and a simulated one.
    • To contribute to the understanding of the startle reflex in the context of emotion and appraisal theories.

    Main Methods:

    • Subjects were exposed to unpredictable blank pistol stimuli to elicit startle responses.

    Related Experiment Videos

  • Subjects were instructed to suppress their startle response or to simulate a startle without a stimulus.
  • Detailed measurements of facial muscular actions were recorded to analyze response patterns.

    • Main Results:

    • Facial muscle activity analysis largely corroborated findings from Landis and Hunt (1939).
    • The study provided evidence supporting the classification of startle as a reflex rather than an emotion.
    • Distinctions were observed between genuine and simulated startle responses.

    Conclusions:

    • Startle responses are best understood as a reflex mechanism.
    • The findings have implications for the ongoing debate regarding the definition and components of emotion.
    • The role of cognitive appraisal in emotional and reflexive responses requires further investigation.