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Cited by 119Face Recognition and PerceptionAction Observation and SynchronizationEmotions and Moral Behavior

Gender differences in facial imitation and verbally reported emotional contagion from spontaneous to emotionally regulated processing levels

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SONNBY‐BORGSTRÖM, MARIANNE, JÖNSSON, PETER, SVENSSON, OWE·2008·Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
DOI 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00626.x
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Abstract

Previous studies on gender differences in facial imitation and verbally reported emotional contagion have investigated emotional responses to pictures of facial expressions at supraliminal exposure times. The aim of the present study was to investigate how gender differences are related to different exposure times, representing information processing levels from subliminal (spontaneous) to supraliminal (emotionally regulated). Further, the study aimed at exploring correlations between verbally reported emotional contagion and facial responses for men and women. Masked pictures of angry, happy and sad facial expressions were presented to 102 participants (51 men) at exposure times from subliminal (23 ms) to clearly supraliminal (2500 ms). Myoelectric activity (EMG) from the corrugator and the zygomaticus was measured and the participants reported their hedonic tone (verbally reported emotional contagion) after stimulus exposures. The results showed an effect of exposure time on gender differences in facial responses as well as in verbally reported emotional contagion. Women amplified imitative responses towards happy vs. angry faces and verbally reported emotional contagion with prolonged exposure times, whereas men did not. No gender differences were detected at the subliminal or borderliminal exposure times, but at the supraliminal exposure gender differences were found in imitation as well as in verbally reported emotional contagion. Women showed correspondence between their facial responses and their verbally reported emotional contagion to a greater extent than men. The results were interpreted in terms of gender differences in emotion regulation, rather than as differences in biologically prepared emotional reactivity.

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Authors
SONNBY‐BORGSTRÖM, M., JÖNSSON, P., & SVENSSON, O.
Affiliations
  • Malmö University (SE)
  • Lund University (SE)
Corresponding author
SONNBY‐BORGSTRÖM, MARIANNE
ORCID
JÖNSSON, PETER
Venue
Scandinavian Journal of Psychology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2008-03-18
Volume
49
Issue
2
Pages
111-122
ISSN
  • 0036-5564 (ISSN-L)
  • 1467-9450
DOI
10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00626.x
OpenAlex
W2034167305
Cited by
119
References
4
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 5
FWCI
1.55
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Scandinavian Journal of Psychology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Lund University Publications (Lund University) (submittedVersion)
  • Malmö University Publications (Malmö University) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Vetenskapsrådet
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Emotions and Moral Behavior
Keywords
gender differences, emotional contagion, exposure time, emotion regulation, facial expressions, corrugator supercilii, zygomaticus, muscle electrical activity, emotional reactivity
MeSH terms
Adult, Cognition, Electromyography, Emotions, Empathy, Facial Expression, Facial Muscles, Female, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Internal-External Control, Male, Nonverbal Communication, Self Disclosure, Sex Factors, Subliminal Stimulation, Time Factors, Verbal Behavior, Visual Perception

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