Measuring emotions in an intergroup context and beyond Dr Roger Giner-Sorolla Department of Psychology Presentation given at the Research Methods Festival, July 2008, Oxford, UK

Emotion research is interdisciplinary ISRE organization has members from psychology, sociology, anthropology, humanities, history … ISRE organization has members from psychology, sociology, anthropology, humanities, history … “Affective revolutions” in economics, computing, law, art education … “Affective revolutions” in economics, computing, law, art education … Emotions are interesting and important Emotions are interesting and important

Only one small question What is an emotion?

“Emotion” is a language/culture category (Wierzbicka) Other cultures (e.g., Ifaluk, studied by Lutz) divide mental phenomena in different ways Even across the Channel … “emotion” vs. “sentiment” not observed in English

How does Western English-speaking culture characterize emotion? Depends … lay or scientific definition? Compact OED Emotion noun 1 a strong feeling, such as joy or anger. 2 instinctive feeling as distinguished from reasoning or knowledge. Psychology: over 50 definitions of emotion …

What is a cat? 4 legs, has fur, has tail …

What is an emotion? Like a cat, different modules or traits Like a cat, different modules or traits Unlike a cat, no scientific consensus on which is the defining set of traits Unlike a cat, no scientific consensus on which is the defining set of traits

What is not an emotion? Even here there is controversy between lay and different scientific definitions Even here there is controversy between lay and different scientific definitions

Emotion vs. attitude/evaluation Emotions have specificity beyond positive or negative valence (fear vs. shame vs. anger vs. sadness) Emotions have specificity beyond positive or negative valence (fear vs. shame vs. anger vs. sadness)

Emotion vs. mood One scientific view: Emotions are responses to specific situations, unlike moods which are diffuse One scientific view: Emotions are responses to specific situations, unlike moods which are diffuse BUT: Emotional feelings are not always identified with their source; can have carry-over effects; can be associated with objects (even irrationally) BUT: Emotional feelings are not always identified with their source; can have carry-over effects; can be associated with objects (even irrationally)

Emotion vs. belief Emotions are not propositional, although they can be expressed in propositional language – “I am angry”; “This place is disgusting” Emotions are not propositional, although they can be expressed in propositional language – “I am angry”; “This place is disgusting” Beliefs can influence emotions (appraisal view); emotions can also influence beliefs (e.g. intuitive prosecutor research) Beliefs can influence emotions (appraisal view); emotions can also influence beliefs (e.g. intuitive prosecutor research)

Emotion vs. motivation View 1: Emotion is motivation View 1: Emotion is motivation Emotion -> behaviour (Lazarus; Scherer; Frijda’s action tendencies) View 2: Emotion is a report on motivation View 2: Emotion is a report on motivation Motive -> Behaviour -> success/failure -> emotion (Buck; Carver & Scheier)

Specific emotion vs. core affect Russell & Barrett’s model Is everything else besides core affect just language?

What is an emotion? Traits Feelings: subjective experience Feelings: subjective experience Impossible to measure directly Language: terms describing subjective experience (or the other things below!) Language: terms describing subjective experience (or the other things below!) Emotion concepts (tied to language or not?) Emotion concepts (tied to language or not?) Facial expressions Facial expressions Physiological changes: central nervous system, peripheral nervous system Physiological changes: central nervous system, peripheral nervous system Effects on thought, judgment, behaviour Effects on thought, judgment, behaviour Dependency on perception, interpretation of environment Dependency on perception, interpretation of environment

Methods of emotion measurement Verbal self-report Verbal self-report Pictorial self-report Pictorial self-report Interjections? Interjections? Facial expression coding Facial expression coding Physiological measures Physiological measures Neurological measures Neurological measures Implicit measures Implicit measures

Methods of emotion manipulation Imagined scenarios Imagined scenarios Recalled scenarios Recalled scenarios Emotion priming: words, faces… Emotion priming: words, faces… Environmental aspects Environmental aspects Social induction Social induction Social contagion Social contagion Physiological induction Physiological induction

Pitfalls of emotion measurement and manipulation Language and emotion terms Language and emotion terms Ambiguities in physiology Ambiguities in physiology Context and referents Context and referents Emotion concept vs. emotion feeling Emotion concept vs. emotion feeling Emotion experience vs. emotion communication Emotion experience vs. emotion communication Confounds in emotion manipulation Confounds in emotion manipulation Limits of emotion manipulation Limits of emotion manipulation

Traps of language Specific languages Specific languages English: “anger”; “disgust” English: “anger”; “disgust” Implicit assumptions in language Implicit assumptions in language English: “irritable”; “disgusting” English: “irritable”; “disgusting”

Intergroup emotions: an example Anger, fear, and action tendencies Anger, fear, and action tendencies