The Consistency With Which Observers Identify the Vocal Expression of Emotion

Abstract

There seems to be no question that emotional states of mind manifest themselves in behavior. The posture, gestures, facial expression, and voice, all contribute to the pattern which is called emotional behavior . Aside from the usual manifestations or emotional behavior in everyday life, various forms of realistic art, such as sculpture, painting, and music, do a successful job of reproducing emotions in an expressive manner. But, in the investigation of emotional behavior, it is necessary to know the extent to which each of the above mentioned factors, the posture, gestures, facial expression and voice, contribute to emotional behavior, and the extent to which each of these factors taken separately may indicate the presence of a specific emotional state of mind. It is the purpose of this investigation to attempt to determine the extent to which the voice may convey specific emotions. If it is possible to express feeling and emotion in the voice, then auditors should be able to recognize the emotion being expressed, and with some level of consistency. As Woodworth states: If there are several distinct emotions, there should be as many behavior patterns distinguishable in the face, voice, and gestures……….Questions of heredity and environment present themselves. Is the motor pattern built up in experience or is it unlearned and hereditary? Related questions are whether the visible or audible behavior pattern is really understood by other persons, … This investigation was, in part, suggested by a similar study, recently completed, on the facial expression of emotion. A review of the literature indicates that the scientific study of the mechanics of tonal expression, of the relation between personality and vocal expression and of the emotional significance of tonal expression, have been carried out in the past . A compilation of studies on the mechanics of tone production in speech and music and its measurement has been made by Seashore. In addition, Merry, Gray, Lynch, Skinner, Fairbanks and Pronovost, and Bonner, deserve mention. Other investigators have analyzed the relationship between vocal expression and certain personality factors: Allport and Cantril1, Vernon1, Fay and Middleton. Some experimental literature on the feeling effects of music deals with its influence on moods, the feeling value of melody, harmony , pitch, tempo, and major and minor modes. In direct relation to the problem at hand, a number of studies concerned with the understanding and interpretation of the emotions as expressed in music and in the speaking voice have been reported. A brief review of these studies might aid in understanding the various procedures used, as well as the results and conclusions obtained in these investigations.