Date of Award
3-24-2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Psychological Science, MS
First Advisor
Kristin Biondolillo
Committee Members
Heloisa Campos; Jessica Curtis; Wayne Wilkinson
Call Number
LD 251 .A566t 2020 S75
Abstract
Differences in personal space preference have been established when encountering individuals with happy, neutral, and angry faces. The present research examines a broader range of expression, by introducing four additional facial expressions, to identify whether previous findings and conclusions persist. In the study, 21 participants were asked to approach fourteen faces consisting of male and female versions of seven different expressions—happy, surprise, neutral, sad, afraid, disgust, and anger—and to stop at the point that they would be comfortable having a conversation with the person. Participants were more likely to be comfortable being closer to faces showing positively associated emotions than negatively associated emotions, regardless of gender. From greatest to shortest distance, expressions were angry, disgusted, afraid, sad, surprised, neutral, and happy. This shows further support for the theory that people may distance themselves from those they perceive to be feeling negative emotions as a form of physical protection.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Stewart, Hannah L., "The Impact of Facial Expressions on Established Personal Space" (2021). Student Theses and Dissertations. 327.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/327
