How do you look when feeling anxious? facial displays of anxiety

Although anxiety is a frequent and disabling emotional state, the display of this affect through facial actions has not been previously studied. Participants were videotaped while describing an anxious past event, and answering stressful and nonstressful questions regarding reactions to the anxiety-...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality and individual differences 1996-08, Vol.21 (2), p.205-212
Main Authors: Harrigan, Jinni A., O'Connell, Dennis M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anxiety
Facial expressions
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Summary:Although anxiety is a frequent and disabling emotional state, the display of this affect through facial actions has not been previously studied. Participants were videotaped while describing an anxious past event, and answering stressful and nonstressful questions regarding reactions to the anxiety-producing experience. High and low self-rated anxious segments were coded using the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Results showed that more facial movements involving elements of the fear expression and more eye blinks were displayed during high vs low anxious segments. There was also an increase in total facial movement during high vs low anxiety. Nonenjoyment smiles were exhibited more often than enjoyment smiles, and females smiled less than males as anxiety increased. Facial actions indicative of other affect states (anger, sadness) did not distinguish anxiety level. Level of anxiety could be differentiated on the basis of specific facial movements related to fear and arousal.
ISSN:0191-8869
1873-3549
DOI:10.1016/0191-8869(96)00050-5