The facial expression of pain in humans considered from a social perspective

The social modulation of pain in humans has been neglected so far with respect to verbal as well as non-verbal communication of pain. The facial pain expression is a powerful way to communicate pain, and there are some theoretical accounts available on how social modulation may affect the encoding of the facial expression of pain. Some accounts, particularly in the pain field, are proximate explanations on the mechanisms involved, whereas an evolutionary psychology account takes a more comprehensive approach. A review of nine experimental studies revealed that in the majority of studies (6/9), social context had an effect on the facial pain expression, but results were inconsistent. Several conceptual and methodological issues are discussed which may explain these inconsistencies and could help in design of future experimental studies. This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of mechanisms and behaviour important for pain’.

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Freeze-like responses to pain in humans and its modulation by social context

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10094 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. e10094

Author(s):

Kai Karos ◽

Ann Meulders ◽

Tine Leyssen ◽

Johan W. Vlaeyen

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Social Context ◽

Facial Expression ◽

Facial Pain ◽

Freezing Behavior ◽

Body Sway ◽

Pain Experience ◽

Defensive Responses ◽

Facial Stimuli ◽

Pain Expression

Background Maladaptive defensive responses such as excessive avoidance behavior have received increasing attention as a main mechanism for the development and maintenance of chronic pain complaints. However, another defensive response which is commonly studied in animals as a proxy for fear is freezing behavior. No research to date has investigated human freezing behavior in the context of pain. In addition, there is an increasing realization that social context can affect pain-relevant processes such as pain experience and pain behavior but less is known about the effects of social context on defensive responses to pain. Hence, this study investigated freezing behavior and facial pain expression in the context of pain, and their modulation by social context. Methods Healthy, pain-free participants (N = 39) stood on a stabilometric force platform in a threatening or safe social context, which was manipulated using angry or happy facial stimuli. In some trials, an auditory cue (conditioned stimulus; CS) predicted the occurrence of painful electrocutaneous stimulus (unconditioned stimulus; pain-US). We assessed body sway (an index of freezing), heart rate, facial pain expression, self-reported pain intensity, unpleasantness, and pain-US expectancy during the CS and the context alone (no CS). Results The results were mixed. Neither the anticipation of pain, nor social context affected body sway. Heart rate and painful facial expression were reduced in the threatening social context at high anxiety levels. A threatening social context also elicited higher pain-US expectancy ratings. In sum, a threatening social context increases the expectation of pain, but reduces the facial expression of pain and lowers heart rate in highly anxious individuals.

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Coda

Musical Emotions Explained ◽

10.1093/oso/9780198753421.003.0033 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 509-514

Author(s):

Patrik N. Juslin

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Field Studies ◽

Causal Relationships ◽

The Social ◽

The Future ◽

The Relationship ◽

Music And Emotion

This chapter considers what the future holds for the field of music and emotion. It suggests that when it comes to making true progress in the field, there is no substitute for systematic experimentation, to tease out those psychophysical relationships that exist between musical features, the social context, and listener reactions, as mediated by a range of mechanisms. More specifically, field studies are needed in ‘ecologically valid’ settings to demonstrate the plausibility of responses, followed by experimental studies in more controlled settings to establish that presumed causal relationships really do hold. It further argues that the relationship between music and emotions depends essentially on evolution.

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Metodiske og metodologiske vurderinger ved bruk av videoobservasjoner i forskning på læringskontekster

10.23865/noasp.153.ch1 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 19-36

Author(s):

May Line Rotvik Tverbakk

Keyword(s):

Social Context ◽

Data Collection ◽

Methodological Issues ◽

Naked Eye ◽

Learning Contexts ◽

Video Observations ◽

The Social ◽

Complex Forms

This chapter discusses methodological assessments using video in research on learning contexts. Depending on the purpose of the research, the use of video observations can provide opportunities for more precise and accurate images of what is happening in the learning contexts than what one can get by simply observing with the naked eye. Video observations can provide access to important information regarding the actions of individual actors and can also contribute to the exploration of more complex forms of interaction in teaching, both verbal and non-verbal. Accurate video observations enable access to details in interaction that the actors are not necessarily aware of in the social context. Video observations, technically speaking, can be regarded as very reliable, because the observations can be analyzed independently by the researcher responsible for the data collection. At the same time, it may be relevant to raise questions about whether the researcher’s choice of focus is more aimed at the researcher’s interests, rather than the situation as it is experienced. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss methodological issues related to the use of video observations in research.

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