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Vocal Expressions of Anger

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International Handbook of Anger

Abstract

The empirical literature demonstrates that vocal expressions of Anger are recognized at levels far exceeding chance. Further, several acoustic features of Anger expressions, including intensity, rate, and pitch, appear to serve as the basis for recognition. The standard experimental paradigm for demonstrating recognition of Anger involves actors creating the vocal expressions, pre-selection of stimuli and judges, and forced-choice paradigms for the judges to respond. The possible limitations of this kind of approach are reviewed along with the dominant theories of emotions that are behind the empirical studies. Recent work on embodied cognition as it relates to emotional expressions and suggestions for future studies is discussed.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    The fundamental frequency of a speech sound corresponds to the rate at which the vocal cords are opening and closing. For adults, F 0 is typically in the 100–200 Hz (or cycles per second) range. Middle C on the piano has a pitch of 220 Hz; our ability to distinguish a voice from a piano note lies large in the other frequencies, or harmonics, that are generated by the vibration source and which then are emphasized by the resonators set in motion by the vibrating source. Pitch, on the other hand, is a perceptual characteristic; perceived pitch is usually based on the fundamental frequency of the voice but there are conditions under which this relation does not hold.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, U-1020, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA

    James A. Green

  2. Department of Psychology, U-1020, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, 06268, USA

    Pamela G. Whitney & Gwen E. Gustafson

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  1. James A. Green
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  2. Pamela G. Whitney
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  3. Gwen E. Gustafson
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Correspondence to James A. Green .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. Pediatrics, Div. Pediatric Clinical Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Delaware St. SE., 420, Minneapolis, 55455, Minnesota, USA

    Michael Potegal

  2. FB Psychologie, Universität Marburg, Gutenbergstr. 18, Marburg, 35032, Germany

    Gerhard Stemmler

  3. University of South Florida, 7th Ave. South 140, St. Petersburg, 33701, Florida, USA

    Charles Spielberger

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Green, J.A., Whitney, P.G., Gustafson, G.E. (2010). Vocal Expressions of Anger. In: Potegal, M., Stemmler, G., Spielberger, C. (eds) International Handbook of Anger. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-89676-2_9

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