Judging Emotions Through Facial Expressions: A Psychology Experiment

Judgment of Emotions Through Facial Expressions

Experiment Details

Name of the Experimenter:

[Experimenter's Name]

Name of the Subject:

[Subject's Name]

Educational Qualification of the Subject:

[Subject's Educational Qualification]

Age of the Subject:

[Subject's Age]

Gender of the Subject:

[Subject's Gender]

Mental Status of the Subject:

[Subject's Mental Status]

Date of the Conduction of the Practical:

[Date of Experiment]

Problem

To measure the accuracy of judgment of emotions through facial expressions.

Introduction

Emotion is a subjective response, usually accompanied by physiological changes that are interpreted by the individual. This interpretation prepares the individual for action and is associated with behavioral changes. We often observe organisms in highly aroused or depressed states and describe these states as emotional. Emotions lead to internal bodily changes, including changes in blood pressure, digestion, blood sugar levels, pulse, and muscle tension. However, these changes can occur in response to various emotions, making it difficult to differentiate emotions based solely on bodily expressions. Overt responses shaped by culture also play a significant role. Facial expressions are a key manifestation of emotion and serve a social function in communication.

When judging emotions:

• Some emotions are harder to judge than others.
• Individuals differ in their ability to accurately identify the intended emotion.
• Some individuals have a better understanding of the language of emotional expression.

Hypothesis

The accuracy of emotion judgment is higher when the subject is provided with a random list of emotions.

Variables

Independent Variable: Emotions expressed in pictures

Dependent Variable: Response given by the subject

Materials

• Judgment of emotions card set
• Pencil
• Eraser
• Observation table

Design of the Experiment

The experiment consists of two parts: Part I without a list of emotions and Part II with a random list of emotions. There is a two-minute rest period between the two parts.

Plan and Procedure

Prior Arrangement

The subject is made to sit comfortably, and rapport is established. The materials are checked to ensure there are 12 different cards, a random list of emotions, and a serial list (key).

Instructions

"There are 12 cards in this experiment. Each card has a photograph of a person displaying a specific emotion. I will be showing you one card at a time. Your task is to identify the emotion that the person in the picture is expressing and tell it to me. You will also have to tell me the facial features that indicate the perceived emotion."

Actual Procedure

After ensuring the subject understands the instructions, the experimenter begins. The 12 cards are shuffled and shown to the subject one by one.

Part I: The subject freely identifies the emotion displayed in each card and describes the associated facial cues. The card number on the back is used to evaluate the accuracy of responses.

Rest Period: After all 12 cards are shown, there is a two-minute rest period.

Part II: The cards are shuffled again, and the subject is provided with a random list of emotions. The subject identifies the emotion displayed in each card, selecting the most appropriate emotion from the list. This is repeated for all 12 cards.

Evaluation: The serial list of emotions is used to check the accuracy of responses.

Introspective Report: The subject's introspective report is taken.