Cited by 122Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesFace Recognition and PerceptionNeural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Judging the intensity of facial expressions of emotion: depression-related biases in the processing of positive affect

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Yoon, K. Lira, Joormann, Jutta, Gotlib, Ian H.·2009·Journal of Abnormal Psychology

Abstract

A forced-choice intensity judgment task was used to investigate biases in the processing of subtle expressions of emotion in participants with major depressive disorder (MDD). Participants were presented with 2 pictures of the same actor side by side, either depicting a neutral and a subtle emotional expression or depicting a subtle positive and a subtle negative expression. Participants were asked to indicate which of the 2 pictures showed the stronger emotion. Compared with participants with social anxiety disorder (SAD) and with never-disordered controls (CTLs), participants with MDD were less likely to judge subtle happy expressions as more intense than neutral expressions. In addition, compared with the CTL participants, participants who had MDD and participants who had SAD were less likely to judge subtle happy expressions to be more intense than negative expressions. Biases in the judgment of the intensity of subtle expressions of positive affect could play an important role in the interpersonal difficulties that are associated with depression.

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  • Compared with healthy volunteers, depressed subjects rated the intensity of negative emotions as higher and the intensity of positive facial expressions as lower.

    “compared with healthy volunteers, depressed subjects rated the intensity of negative emotions as higher (Naranjo et al., 2011) and the intensity of positive facial expressions as lower (Yoon et al., 2009).”

    From Social functioning in major depressive disorder (2016) · cites this paper as Yoon et al., 2009

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Gotlib IH Hammen CL Psychological aspects of depression: Toward a cognitive-interpersonal integration 1992 John Wiley & Sons Oxford, England
  2. Hammen C Depression 1997 Psychology Press Hove, England
  3. Niedenthal PM Halberstadt JB Margolin J Innes-Ker ÅH Emotional state and the detection of change in facial expression of emotion European Journal of Social Psychology 2000 30 211 222

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Authors
Yoon, K. L., Joormann, J., & Gotlib, I. H.
Affiliations
  • University of Miami (US)
  • Stanford University (US)
Venue
Journal of Abnormal Psychology
Published
2009-02
Volume
118
Issue
1
Pages
223-228
ISSN
  • 0021-843X (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1846
OpenAlex
W2068121700
Cited by
121
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 11
FWCI
11.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Abnormal Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • Maryland Shared Open Access Repository (USMAI Consortium) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • Digital Repository at the University of Maryland (University of Maryland College Park)
Funders
National Institute of Mental Health (MH080683)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies
Keywords
major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, positive affect, interpersonal problems
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Depressive Disorder, Major, Major Depressive Disorder, Facial Expression, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Judgment, Male, Middle Aged, Phobic Disorders, Visual Perception, Young Adult

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