Doris Peham

[Facial expressions of negative emotions in clinical interviews: The development, reliability and validity of a categorical system for the attribution of functions to facial expressions of negative emotions].

OBJECTIVES The development (Study 1) and validation (Study 2) of a categorical system for the attribution of facial expressions of negative emotions to specific functions. METHOD The facial expressions observed inOPDinterviews (OPD-Task-Force 2009) are coded according to the Facial Action Coding System (FACS; Ekman et al. 2002) and attributed to categories of basic emotional displays using EmFACS (Friesen & Ekman 1984). In Study 1 we analyze a partial sample of 20 interviews and postulate 10 categories of functions that can be arranged into three main categories (interactive, self and object). In Study 2 we rate the facial expressions (n=2320) from the OPD interviews (10 minutes each interview) of 80 female subjects (16 healthy, 64 with DSM-IV diagnosis; age: 18-57 years) according to the categorical system and correlate them with problematic relationship experiences (measured with IIP,Horowitz et al. 2000). RESULTS Functions of negative facial expressions can be attributed reliably and validly with the RFE-Coding System. CONCLUSIONS The attribution of interactive, self-related and object-related functions allows for a deeper understanding of the emotional facial expressions of patients with mental disorders.

Written on the Face: Self- and Expert-Rated Impairments in Personality Functioning Are Differently Related to the Expression of Disgust Toward an Interviewer

Although current theories suggest that impairments in personality functioning are at the core of personality pathology, there is a lack of research on how these impairments play out behaviorally. The aim of the present study was to investigate disgust expressions as indicators of personality dysfunction. Facial expressions were investigated in a sample of 78 female participants during an in-depth clinical interview and coded with the Facial Action Coding System. Personality dysfunction was assessed with self- and expert ratings. By applying a joint regression analysis, the authors found that disgust expressions toward the interviewer were positively associated with expert ratings but negatively associated with self-ratings. In other words, disgust expressions were indicative of an underestimation of personality dysfunction by participants as compared with experts. This suggests that interactional expressions of disgust might be a behavioral marker of personality dysfunction when individuals are unaware of or deny impairments.

Geschlechts- und Altersunterschiede in der Emotionserkennung von Kindern und Jugendlichen: Erste Analysen mit FACS codierten Kindergesichtern

In this article we present two studies focusing on age and gender differences in facial emotion recognition of children and adolescents. Anew set of stimuli was introduced which is characterized by presenting spontaneous facial affective expressions of children out of genuine interactive play situations. Moreover, facial expressions were coded objectively with the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In the first study, 275 children and adolescents aged 8 to 14 years (M = 10.46, SD = 1.45) rated 24 pictures that showed expressions of the basic emotions happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, fear, and disgust. The overall recognition rate was 55.4 %, with girls show significantly better results than boys. Happiness was rated best, followed by disgust, surprise, sadness, anger, and fear. No age differences were found in Study 1. In Study 2 the ability of emotion recognition was investigated in preschoolers. Sixty-two children aged between 3 and 6 years (M = 4.84, SD = 0.93) rated 12 pictures (2 of each basic emotion). Overall, 41.4 % of the stimuli were rated correctly. Happiness was recognized best, followed by sadness, surprise, anger, disgust, and fear. In Study 2, age differences between an older (5-6 years) and a younger (3-4 years) group were found. Older children showed better emotion recognition abilities and recognized surprise and sadness significantly better than younger children. No gender differences were found in Study 2.

Gender and age differences in emotion recognition of children and adolescent: First analysis of FACS coded childrens' faces

In this article we present two studies focusing on age and gender differences in facial emotion recognition of children and adolescents. Anew set of stimuli was introduced which is characterized by presenting spontaneous facial affective expressions of children out of genuine interactive play situations. Moreover, facial expressions were coded objectively with the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In the first study, 275 children and adolescents aged 8 to 14 years (M = 10.46, SD = 1.45) rated 24 pictures that showed expressions of the basic emotions happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, fear, and disgust. The overall recognition rate was 55.4 %, with girls show significantly better results than boys. Happiness was rated best, followed by disgust, surprise, sadness, anger, and fear. No age differences were found in Study 1. In Study 2 the ability of emotion recognition was investigated in preschoolers. Sixty-two children aged between 3 and 6 years (M = 4.84, SD = 0.93) rated 12 pictures (2 of each basic emotion). Overall, 41.4 % of the stimuli were rated correctly. Happiness was recognized best, followed by sadness, surprise, anger, disgust, and fear. In Study 2, age differences between an older (5-6 years) and a younger (3-4 years) group were found. Older children showed better emotion recognition abilities and recognized surprise and sadness significantly better than younger children. No gender differences were found in Study 2.

Geschlechts- und Altersunterschiede in der Emotionserkennung von Kindern und Jugendlichen

In this article we present two studies focusing on age and gender differences in facial emotion recognition of children and adolescents. Anew set of stimuli was introduced which is characterized by presenting spontaneous facial affective expressions of children out of genuine interactive play situations. Moreover, facial expressions were coded objectively with the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). In the first study, 275 children and adolescents aged 8 to 14 years (M = 10.46, SD = 1.45) rated 24 pictures that showed expressions of the basic emotions happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, fear, and disgust. The overall recognition rate was 55.4 %, with girls show significantly better results than boys. Happiness was rated best, followed by disgust, surprise, sadness, anger, and fear. No age differences were found in Study 1. In Study 2 the ability of emotion recognition was investigated in preschoolers. Sixty-two children aged between 3 and 6 years (M = 4.84, SD = 0.93) rated 12 pictures (2 of each basic emotion). Overall, 41.4 % of the stimuli were rated correctly. Happiness was recognized best, followed by sadness, surprise, anger, disgust, and fear. In Study 2, age differences between an older (5-6 years) and a younger (3-4 years) group were found. Older children showed better emotion recognition abilities and recognized surprise and sadness significantly better than younger children. No gender differences were found in Study 2.