Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy
Facial expressions play a key role in interpersonal communication when it comes to negotiating our emotions and intentions, as well as interpreting those of others. Research has shown that we can connect to other people better when we exhibit signs of empathy and facial mimicry. However, the relatio...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2022-07-01
|
| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/8/250 |
| _version_ | 1827600750068367360 |
|---|---|
| author | Yevgeniya Kovalchuk Elizabeta Budini Robert M. Cook Andrew Walsh |
| author_facet | Yevgeniya Kovalchuk Elizabeta Budini Robert M. Cook Andrew Walsh |
| author_sort | Yevgeniya Kovalchuk |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Facial expressions play a key role in interpersonal communication when it comes to negotiating our emotions and intentions, as well as interpreting those of others. Research has shown that we can connect to other people better when we exhibit signs of empathy and facial mimicry. However, the relationship between empathy and facial mimicry is still debated. Among the factors contributing to the difference in results across existing studies is the use of different instruments for measuring both empathy and facial mimicry, as well as often ignoring the differences across various demographic groups. This study first looks at the differences in the empathetic abilities of people across different demographic groups based on gender, ethnicity and age. The empathetic ability is measured based on the Empathy Quotient, capturing a balanced representation of both emotional and cognitive empathy. Using statistical and machine learning methods, this study then investigates the correlation between the empathetic ability and facial mimicry of subjects in response to images portraying different emotions displayed on a computer screen. Unlike the existing studies measuring facial mimicry using electromyography, this study employs a technology detecting facial expressions based on video capture and deep learning. This choice was made in the context of increased online communication during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study confirm the previously reported difference in the empathetic ability between females and males. However, no significant difference in empathetic ability was found across different age and ethnic groups. Furthermore, no strong correlation was found between empathy and facial reactions to faces portraying different emotions shown on a computer screen. Overall, the results of this study can be used to inform the design of online communication technologies and tools for training empathy team leaders, educators, social and healthcare providers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:41:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fbed84f1d03749bba37721ef5a7f0fa6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:41:33Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-fbed84f1d03749bba37721ef5a7f0fa62023-12-03T13:20:45ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2022-07-0112825010.3390/bs12080250Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and EmpathyYevgeniya Kovalchuk0Elizabeta Budini1Robert M. Cook2Andrew Walsh3Department of Computer Science, University of Reading, Reading RG6 6DH, UKSchool of Computing and Digital Technology, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B5 5JU, UKCentre for Social Care, Health and Related Research, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B5 5JU, UKSchool of Nursing and Midwifery, Birmingham City University, Birmingham B5 5JU, UKFacial expressions play a key role in interpersonal communication when it comes to negotiating our emotions and intentions, as well as interpreting those of others. Research has shown that we can connect to other people better when we exhibit signs of empathy and facial mimicry. However, the relationship between empathy and facial mimicry is still debated. Among the factors contributing to the difference in results across existing studies is the use of different instruments for measuring both empathy and facial mimicry, as well as often ignoring the differences across various demographic groups. This study first looks at the differences in the empathetic abilities of people across different demographic groups based on gender, ethnicity and age. The empathetic ability is measured based on the Empathy Quotient, capturing a balanced representation of both emotional and cognitive empathy. Using statistical and machine learning methods, this study then investigates the correlation between the empathetic ability and facial mimicry of subjects in response to images portraying different emotions displayed on a computer screen. Unlike the existing studies measuring facial mimicry using electromyography, this study employs a technology detecting facial expressions based on video capture and deep learning. This choice was made in the context of increased online communication during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study confirm the previously reported difference in the empathetic ability between females and males. However, no significant difference in empathetic ability was found across different age and ethnic groups. Furthermore, no strong correlation was found between empathy and facial reactions to faces portraying different emotions shown on a computer screen. Overall, the results of this study can be used to inform the design of online communication technologies and tools for training empathy team leaders, educators, social and healthcare providers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/8/250affective computingempathyfacial mimicryfacial recognition technologydeep learning |
| spellingShingle | Yevgeniya Kovalchuk Elizabeta Budini Robert M. Cook Andrew Walsh Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy Behavioral Sciences affective computing empathy facial mimicry facial recognition technology deep learning |
| title | Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy |
| title_full | Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy |
| title_fullStr | Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy |
| title_short | Investigating the Relationship between Facial Mimicry and Empathy |
| title_sort | investigating the relationship between facial mimicry and empathy |
| topic | affective computing empathy facial mimicry facial recognition technology deep learning |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/12/8/250 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yevgeniyakovalchuk investigatingtherelationshipbetweenfacialmimicryandempathy AT elizabetabudini investigatingtherelationshipbetweenfacialmimicryandempathy AT robertmcook investigatingtherelationshipbetweenfacialmimicryandempathy AT andrewwalsh investigatingtherelationshipbetweenfacialmimicryandempathy |