Facial expressions of emotion and the assessment of performance

Abstract

The following report describes an exploratory study that investigated the ability of facial contractions to provide information regarding one"s decision making capabilities under two emotional stressors. The study was a 2 (male, female) X 2 (fear, anger) design. The study utilized a comprehensive assessment method that included a baseline and post emotion elicitation testing period. Testing periods included a saliva sample (cortisol concentration), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, beats per minutes, subjective emotion, and a gambling task measuring decision making and risk-taking. The emotion elicitation methods utilized a movie clip that was pre-selected from an initial study that resulted in producing the greatest changes in subjective fear and anger related emotions. During the movie clip, electromyography (EMG) data were collected on 6 different facial muscles. The results of this study showed that temporal increases in facial contractions following anger elicitation were related to more conservative risk-taking behavior for males. The results also showed that a particular facial location (AU 9; nose cringe) was informative for more conservative risk-taking behavior following fear elicitation for females, but in combination with cardiac and endocrine increases. It is concluded from this study that efforts to replicate these findings are recommended along with extending the data collection period to also investigate individual differences in emotion regulation.