Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing

IntroductionSelf-protection, also called protective anger or assertive anger, is a key factor in mental health. Thus, far, researchers have focused mainly on the qualitative analysis of self-protection.MethodsTherefore, we investigated facial action units, emotions, and vocal cues in low and high se...

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Main Authors: Viktória Vráblová, Júlia Halamová
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363993/full
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author Viktória Vráblová
Júlia Halamová
author_facet Viktória Vráblová
Júlia Halamová
author_sort Viktória Vráblová
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSelf-protection, also called protective anger or assertive anger, is a key factor in mental health. Thus, far, researchers have focused mainly on the qualitative analysis of self-protection.MethodsTherefore, we investigated facial action units, emotions, and vocal cues in low and high self-protective groups of participants in order to detect any differences. The total sample consisted of 239 participants. Using the Performance factor in the Short version of the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (lower 15th percentile and upper 15th percentile) we selected 33 high self-protective participants (11 men, 22 women) and 25 low self-protective participants (eight men, 17 women). The self-protective dialogue was recorded using the two-chair technique script from Emotion Focused Therapy. The subsequent analysis was performed using iMotions software (for action units and emotions) and Praat software (for vocal cues of pitch and intensity). We used multilevel models in program R for the statistical analysis.ResultsCompared to low self-protective participants, high self-protective participants exhibited more contempt and fear and less surprise and joy. Compared to low self-protective participants, high self-protective participants expressed the action units the following action units less often: Mouth Open (AU25), Smile (AU12), Brow Raise (AU2), Cheek Raise (AU6), Inner Brow Raise (AU1), and more often Brow Furrow (AU4), Chin Raise (AU17), Smirk (AU12), Upper Lip Raise (AU10), and Nose Wrinkle (AU9). We found no differences between the two groups in the use of vocal cues.DiscussionThese findings bring us closer to understanding and diagnosing self-protection.
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spelling doaj-art-013d1110c2f74bd595b8914d186900082025-01-15T06:10:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-01-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.13639931363993Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizingViktória VráblováJúlia HalamováIntroductionSelf-protection, also called protective anger or assertive anger, is a key factor in mental health. Thus, far, researchers have focused mainly on the qualitative analysis of self-protection.MethodsTherefore, we investigated facial action units, emotions, and vocal cues in low and high self-protective groups of participants in order to detect any differences. The total sample consisted of 239 participants. Using the Performance factor in the Short version of the Scale for Interpersonal Behavior (lower 15th percentile and upper 15th percentile) we selected 33 high self-protective participants (11 men, 22 women) and 25 low self-protective participants (eight men, 17 women). The self-protective dialogue was recorded using the two-chair technique script from Emotion Focused Therapy. The subsequent analysis was performed using iMotions software (for action units and emotions) and Praat software (for vocal cues of pitch and intensity). We used multilevel models in program R for the statistical analysis.ResultsCompared to low self-protective participants, high self-protective participants exhibited more contempt and fear and less surprise and joy. Compared to low self-protective participants, high self-protective participants expressed the action units the following action units less often: Mouth Open (AU25), Smile (AU12), Brow Raise (AU2), Cheek Raise (AU6), Inner Brow Raise (AU1), and more often Brow Furrow (AU4), Chin Raise (AU17), Smirk (AU12), Upper Lip Raise (AU10), and Nose Wrinkle (AU9). We found no differences between the two groups in the use of vocal cues.DiscussionThese findings bring us closer to understanding and diagnosing self-protection.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363993/fullaction unitsemotionsself-protectiontwo chair techniquevoice unitsvocal cues
spellingShingle Viktória Vráblová
Júlia Halamová
Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
Frontiers in Psychology
action units
emotions
self-protection
two chair technique
voice units
vocal cues
title Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
title_full Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
title_fullStr Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
title_full_unstemmed Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
title_short Characteristics of vocal cues, facial action units, and emotions that distinguish high from low self-protection participants engaged in self-protective response to self-criticizing
title_sort characteristics of vocal cues facial action units and emotions that distinguish high from low self protection participants engaged in self protective response to self criticizing
topic action units
emotions
self-protection
two chair technique
voice units
vocal cues
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363993/full
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