Evaluating emotion from biological motion: The role of social competence

摘要

This study examined factors of social competence that influence perceptions of arousal and valence from biological motion created from body movements expressing anger, fear, and happiness. Biological motion representing fear was rated significantly higher in arousal compared to happiness and anger. Moreover, participants with lower social competence rated fearful biological motion as more arousing compared to those with higher social competence. Our preliminary findings suggest that biological motion is sufficient to specify valence and arousal, and that individual perceptions of valence and arousal vary as a function of social competence.