Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T13:02:41.049Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A New Set of Standardised Verbal and Non-verbal Contemporary Film Stimuli for the Elicitation of Emotions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2012

Lisanne M. Jenkins  and
David G. Andrewes
Lisanne M. Jenkins*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Australia
David G. Andrewes
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Melbourne, Australia
*
Address for correspondence: Lisanne Jenkins, E-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

This study responded to a need for an updated set of film clips for the elicitation of emotion. Previous such stimuli are not only dated, but are limited in that they have been validated using participants from a narrow age range, which is problematic given conflicting reports regarding age differences in self-reported emotion elicited in a laboratory setting. The present study aimed to develop a new film stimulus set standardised on a wide age range of participants, while investigating age differences in self-reported emotion in response to film clips. An ancillary aim was to standardise film clips that were with and without dialogue. Two researchers composed a shortlist of 60 clips that were chosen to elicit six target emotions of amusement, anger, disgust, fear, happiness and sadness, as well as a neutral state. Each of the 109 participants (55 males, 54 females), aged between 18 and 88 years (M = 44.94) viewed all 60 clips. Self-reported emotional experience was measured using a computerised Visual Analogue Scale. Age differences were observed whereby participants aged 46–88 reported more intense positive and negative emotions in response to film clips than participants aged 18–45. Consistent with previous research, difficulties were found in eliciting the target emotion of anger. A success index was calculated for each film that took into consideration the mean rating on the target emotion and the degree to which the film elicited only the target emotion. We present a list of film clips recommended for future research.

Keywords

emotionfilmsagestandardisationverbalnon-verbal
Type
Articles
Information
Brain Impairment , Volume 13 , Issue 2 , September 2012 , pp. 212 - 227
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abrams, J.J., Moore, C., & Dahl, J. (2001). Road Kill (Joy Ride) [Motion Picture]. USA: Regency Entertainment.Google Scholar
Averill, J.R. (1969). Autonomic response patterns during sadness and mirth. Psychophysiology, 5, 399–414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bender, C., Maddalena, M., & Craven, W. (2005). Red Eye [Motion Picture]. USA: Dreamworks Pictures.Google Scholar
Boyd, R., & McGuire, F. (1996). The efficacy of humor in improving psychological well-being of residents of long-term care facilities. Journal of Leisurability, 23 (4).Google Scholar
Burriss, L., Powell, D.A., & White, J. (2007). Psychophysiological and subjective indices of emotion as a function of age and gender. Cognition and Emotion, 21 (1), 182–210.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coblenz, W., & Pakula, A.J. (1976). All the President's Men [Motion Picture]. USA: Warner Bros.Google Scholar
Coppola, F.F., & Coppola, S. (2006). Marie Antoinette [Motion Picture]. USA: Columbia Pictures.Google Scholar
Ellis, R.J., & Simons, R.F. (2005). The impact of music on subjective and physiological indices of emotion while viewing films. Psychomusicology, 19, 15–40.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Feshbach, S. (1971). Dynamics and morality of violence and aggression: Some psychological considerations. American Journal of Psychology, 26, 281–292.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerrards-Hesse, A., Spies, K., & Hesse, F.W. (1994). Experimental inductions of emotional states and their effectiveness: A review. British Journal of Psychology, 85, 55–78.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grazer, B., & Zieff, H. (1991). My Girl [Motion Picture]. USA: Columbia Pictures.Google Scholar
Gross, J.J., & Levenson, R.W. (1995). Emotion elicitation using films. Cognition & Emotion, 9 (1), 87–108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guiney, E., Greengrass, P., & Travis, P. (2004). Omagh [Motion Picture]. Ireland: Universal Studios.Google Scholar
Hagemann, D., Naumann, E., Maier, S., Becker, G., Lurken, A., & Bartussek, D. (1999). The assessment of affective reactivity using films: Validity, reliability and sex differences. Personality and Individual Differences, 26 (4), 627–639.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hewig, J., Hagemann, D., Seifert, J., Gollwitzer, M., Naumann, E., & Bartussek, D. (2005). A revised film set for the induction of basic emotions. Cognition & Emotion, 19 (7), 1095–1109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Katz, R., & Coppola, S. (2003). Lost In Translation [Motion Picture]. USA: Focus Features.Google Scholar
Kring, A.M., & Gordon, A.H. (1998). Sex differences in emotion: Expression, experience and physiology. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74 (3), 686–703.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lau, L., & Kentis, C. (2003). Open Water [Motion Picture]. USA. Lions Gate Films.Google Scholar
Levenson, R.W., Carstensen, L.L., Friesen, W.V., & Ekman, P. (1991). Emotion, physiology, and expression in old age. Psychology and Aging, 6 (1), 28–35.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levenson, R.W., Carstensen, L.L., & Gottman, J.M. (1994). The influence of age and gender on affect, physiology, and their interrelations: A study of long-term marriages. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67 (1), 56–68.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Levinson, B., & Fontana, T. (1997). Oz: The complete first season: Episode 7 [Television series]. USA: HBO.Google Scholar
Malatesta, C.Z., Izard, C.E., Culver, C., & Nicolich, M. (1987). Emotion communication skills in young, middle-aged, and older women. Psychology and Aging, 2 (2), 193–203.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Malatesta, C.Z., & Kalnok, M. (1984). Emotional experience in younger and older adults. Journal of Gerontology, 39 (3), 301–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mancuso, J.F., Lazarus, T., & Wainwright, R. (1999). Stigmata [Motion Picture]. USA: Metro-Goldwyn Mayer Pictures.Google Scholar
Martin, M. (1990). On the induction of mood. Clinical Psychology Review, 10 (6), 669–697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mather, M., Canli, T., English, T., Whitfield, S., Wais, P., Ochsner, K., et al. (2004). Amygdala responses to emotionally valenced stimuli in older and younger adults. Psychological Science, 15 (4), 259–263.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
McHugo, G.J., Smith, G.A., & Lanzetta, J.T. (1982). The structure of self-reports of emotional responses to film segments. Motivation and Emotion, 6 (4), 365–385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Owen, A., & Jeffs, C. (2003). Sylvia [Motion Picture]. UK: BBC Films.Google Scholar
Philippot, P. (1993). Inducing and assessing differentiated emotion-feeling states in the laboratory. Cognition & Emotion, 7 (2), 171–193.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ptzaszynski, A., & Schlamme, T. (2007). Rowan Atkinson Live! [Motion Picture]. UK: Kaleidoscope Film.Google Scholar
Reminger, S.L., Kaszniak, A.W., & Dalby, P.R. (2000). Age-invariance in the asymmetry of stimulus-evoked emotional facial muscle activity. Aging, Neuropsychology and Cognition, 7 (3), 156–168.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rottenberg, J., Ray, R.D., & Gross, J.J. (2007). Emotion elicitation using films. In Coan, J.A. & Allen, J.J.B. (Eds.), Handbook of emotion elicitation and assessment. New York: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Scharf, D., Pringle, I., & Wright, G. (1992). Romper Stomper [Motion Picture]. Australia: Seon Films.Google Scholar
Scholes, R., & Tamahori, L. (1994). Once Were Warriors [Motion Picture]. New Zealand: Communicado.Google Scholar
Scott, J.C. (1930). Systolic blood-pressure with sex, anger and fear. Journal of Comparative Psychology, 10, 97–114.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, D.P., Hillman, C.H., & Duley, A.R. (2005). Influences of age on emotional reactivity during picture processing. Journal of Gerontology Series B- Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 60 (1), 49–56.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sommers, P., & Birkin, J. (1990). Mr Bean 10th Anniversary Collection: Mr Bean Goes to Town [Television Series]. UK: Universal Studios.Google Scholar
Sternbach, R.A. (1962). Assessing differential autonomic patterns in emotions. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 6, 87–91.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tasioulis, S., Tidmarsh, A., Fothergill, A., & Byatt, A. (2003). Deep Blue [Motion Picture]. UK: Hopscotch.Google Scholar
Tsai, J.L., Levenson, R.W., & Carstensen, L.L. (2000). Autonomic, subjective, and expressive responses to emotional films in older and younger Chinese Americans and European Americans. Psychology and Aging, 15 (4), 684–693.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Westermann, R., Spies, K., Stahl, G., & Hesse, F.W. (1996). Relative effectiveness and validity of mood induction procedures: A meta-analysis. European Journal of Social Psychology, 26, 557–580.3.0.CO;2-4>CrossRefGoogle Scholar