DATE:
June 15, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Facial emotion recognition: How social anxiety impacts autistic and learning-disabled children
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/facial-emotion-recognition-how-social-anxiety-impacts-autistic-and-learning-disabled-children/
<p>A study of schoolchildren in Italy found that children with autism and specific learning disorders have more trouble recognizing facial emotions compared to non-diagnosed children. In autistic children, higher social anxiety is associated with better emotion recognition, while in those with learning disorders, higher anxiety is associated with more difficulty recognizing emotions. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000038"><em>Development and Psychopathology</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>Being able to recognize the emotional state of another person by looking at his/her face is a crucial ability for social functioning. Many individuals can derive a wealth of information about internal psychological states or characteristics of another person just from nonverbal cues. This ability to recognize emotions of another person by looking at his/her facial expression is called facial emotion recognition.</p>
<p>Autism spectrum disorder, commonly referred to as autism, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors or restricted interests. The severity of these symptoms can vary greatly. Those with milder forms of autism can live independently, complete their education, maintain employment, and have fulfilling social relationships. However, individuals with more severe forms might require continuous support throughout their lives.</p>
<p>One of the prominent characteristics of autism are difficulties in social interactions. Studies suggest that at least a part of these difficulties might be because of the reduced ability of autistic individuals to recognize emotional and mental expressions using nonverbal cues.</p>
<p>Study author Rachele Lievore and her colleagues sought to explore the ability to recognize facial emotions, social anxiety levels, and cognitive factors in schoolchildren with and without autism and specific learning disabilities. Children with specific learning disabilities experience significant challenges in reading, writing, and/or mathematics. While distinct from autism, previous studies have shown these children often have lower levels of various cognitive abilities, prompting the researchers to investigate their emotion recognition capabilities.</p>
<p>The study involved 263 children and adolescents aged 8 to 16. Among them, 60 had autism, 63 had specific learning disabilities, and 140 had neither diagnosis. All participants were native Italian speakers.</p>
<p>Participants completed a facial emotion recognition task, where they were shown pairs of images of actors expressing specific emotions. Their task was to determine whether the actors expressed the same or different emotions in each pair of images. There were 144 pairs in total, with half showing the same emotion and the other half showing different emotions.</p>
<p>Parents of the participants completed an assessment of their children’s social anxiety using the parent-report form of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children. The children also completed three tests of executive functions, which assessed inhibitory control, updating, and set-shifting.</p>
<p>Inhibitory control is the ability to suppress impulsive responses and resist distractions to maintain goal-directed behavior. Updating refers to the capacity to monitor and revise working memory with new, relevant information. Set-shifting is the ability to switch attention and adapt to changing tasks, rules, or perspectives flexibly.</p>
<p>The results showed that participants with autism and specific learning disabilities were less capable of recognizing facial emotions compared to children without these diagnoses. Those with autism also had poorer executive functioning than the other two groups. Children and adolescents with autism and specific learning disabilities exhibited higher levels of social anxiety.</p>
<p>In children suffering from autism, those with high social anxiety tended to be better at recognizing emotions on faces. In their peers with specific learning disabilities, lower social anxiety was associated with better facial emotion recognition abilities.</p>
<p>“Overall, despite similar weaknesses in FER [facial emotion recognition] in ASD [autism spectrum disorder] and SLD [specific learning disabilities], different underlying mechanisms may lie behind such performances in these two different neurodevelopmental conditions. Understanding these differences can guide practitioners in designing individualized interventions, tailored to the specific challenges of the examined clinical profile,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study makes a valuable contribution to the scientific understanding of the links between autism, specific learning disabilities, social anxiety, and facial emotion recognition abilities. However, it is important to note that the facial emotion recognition abilities were measured using static images of actors who were simulating emotional expressions, rather than experiencing them. This, along with the static nature of the images, differs from how emotions are recognized in real-world situations.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579424000038">Let’s face it! The role of social anxiety and executive functions in recognizing others’ emotions from faces: Evidence from autism and specific learning disorders,</a>” was authored by Rachele Lievore, Ramona Cardillo and Irene C. Mammarella.</p>
DATE: June 14, 2024 at 12:02PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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DATE:
June 14, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
New research uncovers the unexpected benefits of positive secrets
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-uncovers-the-unexpected-benefits-of-positive-secrets/
<p>Secrecy has often been associated with negative consequences. However, a recent study published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000352"><em>Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</em></a> offers a surprising twist, revealing that positive secrets can actually increase feelings of energy.</p>
<p>Positive secrecy is the intention to keep positive information from others. Classic theories have suggested that any form of secrecy depletes cognitive resources due to the continuous effort to hide information. However, newer perspectives suggest that the effects of secrecy may instead be about how individuals reflect on the hidden information rather than the act of concealment itself.</p>
<p>Michael L. Slepian and colleagues conducted five experiments, recruiting 1800 participants between 18 to 78 years across the U.S via online crowdsourcing platforms.</p>
<p>Study 1 involved 200 participants who were presented with a list of 38 common categories of good news (e.g., receiving a promotion, winning an award) and asked to indicate which pieces of good news they currently held as secrets and which were non-secrets. They were then randomly assigned to reflect on either their secret or non-secret good news. Measures included feelings of energy using the six-item subjective vitality scale (e.g., “feeling awake and alert,” rated from 1 = not at all to 7 = very), positive affect using two items from the PANAS-X joy scale (i.e., “How good does it make you feel?” and “How happy does it make you?” rated from 1 = not at all to 7 = very), and intent to share the good news with others (“I intend to tell people/someone about this,” rated from 1 = not at all to 7 = very much).</p>
<p>Participants who reflected on secret good news reported significantly higher feelings of energy compared to those who reflected on non-secret good news. This effect was independent of positive affect and intent to share, suggesting that keeping good news secret itself contributes to increased energy levels. Intent to share also had an independent positive effect on energy.</p>
<p>Study 2 included 600 participants in committed relationships. Participants selected a piece of good news that could plausibly happen to them and would make them happy but was not yet known by their partner. They were then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: intrinsic motivation (choosing to keep the secret), extrinsic motivation (unable to share due to external constraints), or a baseline condition (no reason specified). Feelings of energy were measured using an expanded energy scale (10 items, e.g., tired, depleted, energized, alive, rated from 1 = not at all to 7 = very much).</p>
<p>Participants who kept their good news secret for intrinsic reasons (i.e., personal choice) reported higher feelings of energy compared to those who kept it secret for extrinsic reasons (i.e., external constraints) or no specified reason. The intrinsic motivation condition reported feeling more energized than both the extrinsic motivation and baseline conditions, supporting the hypothesis that intrinsic motivation enhances the energizing effect of positive secrets.</p>
<p>Study 3 included 700 participants to compare positive secrets to negative secrets and secrets of unspecified valence. Participants were randomly assigned to recall a positive, negative, or unspecified secret. They reported their intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation for keeping the secret using a binary measure (intrinsic = 1, extrinsic = 0) and rated their positive affect with the PANAS-X joy scale (i.e., happy, joyful, delighted, cheerful, rated from 1 = not at all to 5 = extremely).</p>
<p>Positive secrets were found to be more intrinsically motivated than negative secrets or secrets of unspecified valence. Participants who recalled positive secrets reported higher levels of intrinsic motivation (78%) compared to those with unspecified secrets (55%) and negative secrets (61%). Additionally, positive secrets were associated with higher positive affect and greater feelings of energy, suggesting that intrinsic motivation plays an important role in the energizing effects of positive secrets.</p>
<p>Study 4 involving 500 participants focused on comparing positive secrets to secrets of unspecified valence. Participants recalled either a positive secret or a secret of unspecified valence and reported their intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation, feelings of energy, and positive affect. The measures included the same intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation binary measure, the 10-item energy scale used in Study 2, and the PANAS-X joy scale.</p>
<p>Positive secrets were more intrinsically motivated (69%) than secrets of unspecified valence (52%). Participants who recalled positive secrets reported higher energy compared to those with unspecified secrets. The intrinsic motivation behind positive secrets mediated the energizing effect, independent of positive affect. This suggests that the motivational quality of positive secrets contributes to their energizing effects.</p>
<p>The final study included 800 participants recruited from Prolific. Participants were randomly assigned to recall positive or unspecified valence information relevant to an upcoming conversation with their partner, either as a secret or non-secret. Measures included intrinsic and extrinsic motivation scales, feelings of energy, and intentions to share the information.</p>
<p>Positive secrets were found to be more intrinsically motivated and more energizing than unspecified valence secrets and non-secrets. The intention to share the information did not significantly influence feelings of energy, highlighting that the energizing effects of positive secrets are primarily driven by intrinsic motivation. This study confirmed that self-alignment and intrinsic motivation are key mechanisms behind the increased feelings of energy associated with positive secrets.</p>
<p>Overall, this research suggests that positive secrets can be a significant source of energy and vitality, challenging the traditional view that all secrecy is inherently burdensome.</p>
<p>One limitation is the reliance on self-reported measures of energy and motivation, which can be subject to bias.</p>
<p>The research, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000352">The bright side of secrecy: The energizing effect of positive secrets</a>”, was authored by Michael L. Slepian, Katharine H. Greenaway, Nicholas P. Camp, and Adam D. Galinsky.</p>
DATE: June 14, 2024 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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The capacity to adjust beliefs about one's actions and their consequences in a constantly changing environment is a defining characteristic of advanced cognition. Disruptions to this ability, however, can negatively affect cognition and behavior, leading to such states of mind as paranoia, or the belief that others intend to harm us. In a new study, scientists uncover how one specific region of the brain might causally provoke these feelings of paranoia. Their novel approach -- which involved aligning data collected from monkeys with human data -- also offers a new cross-species framework through which scientists might better understand human cognition through the study of other species.
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The capacity to adjust beliefs about one's actions and their consequences in a constantly changing environment is a defining characteristic of advanced cognition. Disruptions to this ability, however, can negatively affect cognition and behavior, leading to such states of mind as paranoia, or the belief that others intend to harm us. In a new study, scientists uncover how one specific region of the brain might causally provoke these feelings of paranoia. Their novel approach -- which involved aligning data collected from monkeys with human data -- also offers a new cross-species framework through which scientists might better understand human cognition through the study of other species.
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Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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DATE:
June 14, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
The impact of art therapy: Emotional shifts seen in masks made by veterans with PTSD
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/the-impact-of-art-therapy-emotional-shifts-seen-in-masks-made-by-veterans-with-ptsd/
<p>A recent study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57128-5"><em>Scientific Reports</em></a> reveals that art therapy, specifically mask-making, may reflect significant emotional changes in military personnel suffering from post-traumatic stress symptoms.</p>
<p>Art has long been recognized as a powerful form of non-verbal communication, capable of expressing complex emotions and experiences which may be challenging to articulate through language.</p>
<p>Post-traumatic stress symptoms, including irritability and aggressive behavior, affect a significant number of military service members. While medications such as antidepressants are commonly used to treat post-traumatic stress symptoms, complete remission is unlikely. Hence, finding effective interventions to address the emotional aftermath of traumatic experiences is crucial.</p>
<p>Researchers embarked on this study to explore whether the emotional states of military personnel with post-traumatic stress symptoms could be discerned through their art, specifically masks made during an art therapy program.</p>
<p>The team, led by V. Estrada Gonzalez from the University of Pennsylvania, hypothesized that the masks would show a transition from negative to positive emotional expressions as therapy progressed.</p>
<p>The methodology involved five service members undergoing an 8-session art therapy protocol, where they were instructed to alter masks using art materials at the beginning and end of the therapy sessions.</p>
<p>The 10 masks that were created were presented to 203 independent English-speaking individuals, who viewed digital images of the masks.</p>
<p>These viewers were unaware of the treatment details and the masks’ creation stage, and they were instructed to assess the emotions expressed through the art along 11 dimensions: angry, calm, compassionate, challenged, edified, enraptured, enlightened, interested, inspired, pleasure and upset.</p>
<p>Following data analysis, it was made clear that the masks created in earlier therapy sessions were associated with more negative emotions, such as feeling angry, challenged and upset.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the masks created later in therapy conveyed more positive emotions including increased feelings of calmness and pleasure. The authors suggest this reflects an emotional transition experienced by the participants.</p>
<p>Gonzalez and team concluded, “Our findings support the usefulness of art therapy within the array of treatment options for post-traumatic stress symptoms. As one of relatively few non-verbal approaches available, art therapy holds particular significance for patients who struggle with verbal expression of their trauma. By highlighting positive outcomes, our study advocates for a broader, more versatile therapeutic approach that accommodates the needs of patients who may find treatments based on verbal communication challenging.”</p>
<p>However, the findings are limited by the small sample of artwork. Furthermore, the progress of patients receiving therapy was not reported, and therefore clinical improvement cannot be correlated directly with art therapy.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-57128-5">Art therapy masks reflect emotional changes in military personnel with PTSS</a>”, was authored by V. Estrada Gonzalez, V. Meletaki, M. Walker, J. Payano Sosa, A. Stamper, R. Srikanchana, J. L. King, K. Scott, E. R. Cardillo, C. Sours Rhodes, A. P. Christensen, K. M. Darda, C. I. Workman, and A. Chatterjee.</p>
DATE: June 14, 2024 at 06:30AM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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