Breaking News- Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Lastest Issue Released

Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009

On the Correspondence Between Physiological and Nonverbal Responses: Nonverbal Behavior Accompanying Challenge and Threat


Abstract: Little is known regarding the covariance between physiological and nonverbal responses to “stressful” situations. We argue that physiological markers are especially likely to be accompanied by psychologically-meaningful nonverbal behavior. Within “stressful” motivated performance situations, complex patterns of cardiovascular (CV) reactivity mark challenge and threat motivational states relevant to confidence. We expected the CV challenge and threat markers to be distinguished on the basis of facial and vocal confidence. In a test of this hypothesis, participants’ cardiovascular (CV) responses were recorded during a videotaped social interaction. As expected, the CV challenge marker was associated with more vocal confidence and less facial confidence than the CV threat marker. These findings are related to the complexity of human responses to motivated performances.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Brief Report
DOI 10.1007/s10919-008-0064-8
Authors
Max Weisbuch, Tufts University Department of Psychology 490 Boston Avenue Medford MA 02155 USA
Mark D. Seery, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Buffalo NY USA
Nalini Ambady, Tufts University Department of Psychology 490 Boston Avenue Medford MA 02155 USA
Jim Blascovich, University of California Santa Barbara CA USA
Journal Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Online ISSN 1573-3653
Print ISSN 0191-5886
Journal Volume Volume 33
Journal Issue Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009


Looking at the Audience Improves Music Appreciation


Abstract: The establishment of eye contact between a musician and his or her listeners, and its influence on musical perception, has been neglected by musical performance research. Two experiments were conducted to verify the hypothesis that increased eye contact between musician and audience leads the latter to better appreciate the music performed by the former. In the first experiment a musician played and sang three pieces, whereas in the second study he played without vocal support. The results of both experiments showed that directing the musicians’ gaze toward the audience enhanced the qualities of the musical experience.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Original Paper
DOI 10.1007/s10919-008-0062-x
Authors
Alessandro Antonietti, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Department of Psychology Largo Gemelli 1 20123 Milan Italy
Daniela Cocomazzi, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Department of Psychology Largo Gemelli 1 20123 Milan Italy
Paola Iannello, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart Department of Psychology Largo Gemelli 1 20123 Milan Italy
Journal Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Online ISSN 1573-3653
Print ISSN 0191-5886
Journal Volume Volume 33
Journal Issue Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009


Recognizing Emotions in a Foreign Language


Abstract: Expressions of basic emotions (joy, sadness, anger, fear, disgust) can be recognized pan-culturally from the face and it is assumed that these emotions can be recognized from a speaker’s voice, regardless of an individual’s culture or linguistic ability. Here, we compared how monolingual speakers of Argentine Spanish recognize basic emotions from pseudo-utterances (“nonsense speech”) produced in their native language and in three foreign languages (English, German, Arabic). Results indicated that vocal expressions of basic emotions could be decoded in each language condition at accuracy levels exceeding chance, although Spanish listeners performed significantly better overall in their native language (“in-group advantage”). Our findings argue that the ability to understand vocally-expressed emotions in speech is partly independent of linguistic ability and involves universal principles, although this ability is also shaped by linguistic and cultural variables.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Original Paper
DOI 10.1007/s10919-008-0065-7
Authors
Marc D. Pell, McGill University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders 1266, ave. des Pins Ouest Montréal QC H3G 1A8 Canada
Laura Monetta, McGill University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders 1266, ave. des Pins Ouest Montréal QC H3G 1A8 Canada
Silke Paulmann, McGill University School of Communication Sciences and Disorders 1266, ave. des Pins Ouest Montréal QC H3G 1A8 Canada
Sonja A. Kotz, Max Planck Institute of Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences Research Group on Neurocognition of Rhythm in Communication Leipzig Germany
Journal Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Online ISSN 1573-3653
Print ISSN 0191-5886
Journal Volume Volume 33
Journal Issue Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009


Do Iconic Hand Gestures Really Contribute to the Communication of Semantic Information in a Face-to-Face Context?


Abstract: Previous research has shown that iconic gestures are effective at communicating semantic information, particularly about the size and relative position of objects. However, the conclusions of these experiments have been somewhat limited by the fact that the methodology has typically involved presenting gesture–speech samples on video rather than in an actual face-to-face context. Because these different viewing conditions can impact on addressees’ behavior and perception, and therefore potentially impact on the amount of information they receive from gestures, the present study compares the communicative effectiveness of iconic gestures when viewed in a face-to-face context compared to when viewed on video. The results are quite striking in that gestures seemed at least as effective, and in some cases even more effective at communicating position and size information when they occurred in the face-to-face condition compared to video.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Original Paper
DOI 10.1007/s10919-008-0063-9
Authors
Judith Holler, University of Manchester School of Psychological Sciences Coupland Building 1 Manchester M13 9PL UK
Heather Shovelton, University of Manchester School of Psychological Sciences Coupland Building 1 Manchester M13 9PL UK
Geoffrey Beattie, University of Manchester School of Psychological Sciences Coupland Building 1 Manchester M13 9PL UK
Journal Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Online ISSN 1573-3653
Print ISSN 0191-5886
Journal Volume Volume 33
Journal Issue Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009


Parents’ Beliefs about Emotions and Children’s Recognition of Parents’ Emotions


Abstract: This study investigated parents’ emotion-related beliefs, experience, and expression, and children’s recognition of their parents’ emotions with 40 parent-child dyads. Parents reported beliefs about danger and guidance of children’s emotions. While viewing emotion-eliciting film clips, parents self-reported their emotional experience and masking of emotion. Children and observers rated videos of parents watching emotion-eliciting film clips. Fathers reported more masking than mothers and their emotional expressions were more difficult for both observers and children to recognize compared with mothers’ emotional expressions. For fathers, but not mothers, showing clearer expressions was related to children’s general skill at recognizing emotional expressions. Parents who believe emotions are dangerous reported greater masking of emotional expression. Contrary to hypothesis, when parents strongly believe in guiding their child’s emotion socialization, children showed less accurate recognition of their parents’ emotions.

Content Type Journal Article
Category Original Paper
DOI 10.1007/s10919-008-0066-6
Authors
Julie C. Dunsmore, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of Psychology Blacksburg VA 24061-0436 USA
Pa Her, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of Psychology Blacksburg VA 24061-0436 USA
Amy G. Halberstadt, North Carolina State University Department of Psychology Raleigh NC USA
Marie B. Perez-Rivera, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Department of Psychology Blacksburg VA 24061-0436 USA
Journal Journal of Nonverbal Behavior
Online ISSN 1573-3653
Print ISSN 0191-5886
Journal Volume Volume 33
Journal Issue Volume 33, Number 2 / June, 2009◦

Breaking News- Journal of Nonverbal Behavior Lastest Issue Released