Knowledge of American sign language and the ability of hearing individuals to decode facial expressions of emotion

Author(s): Feldman, R. S.

Journal/Book: J Nonverbal Behav. 1996; 20: 233 Spring St, New York, NY 10013-1578. Human Sci Press Inc. 111-122.

Abstract: The relation between knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL) and the ability to decode facial expressions of emotion was explored in this study. Subjects were 60 college students, half of whom were intermediate level students of ASL and half of whom had no exposure to a signed language. Subjects viewed and judged silent video segments of stimulus persons experiencing spontaneous emotional reactions representing either happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, or fear/surprise. Results indicated that hearing subjects knowledgeable in ASL were generally better than hearing non-signers at identifying facial expressions of emotion, although there were variations in decoding accuracy regarding the specific emotion being judged. In addition, females were more successful decoders than males. Results have implications for better understanding the nature of nonverbal communication in deaf and hearing individuals.

Note: Article RS Feldman, Univ Massachusetts, Dept Psychol, Tobin Hall, Amherst, MA 01003 USA

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