1
Return

Adolescents and Adults Use Different Facial Movements and Vocal Cues to Express Emotions

delete2026-06-21
delete0
delete
OA
AI
D
Daniel R. Nault *
S
Sarah M. C. Robichaud
M
Michele Morningstar
DOI:10.1111/desc.70234delete
deleteOriginal
deleteShare
deleteSave
View PDF
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Current understanding of how facial and vocal cues can communicate emotional intent is based on patterns observed in adults, with surprisingly little known about age-related differences in nonverbal expression. Do adolescents and adults use different nonverbal cues to express emotions? This cross-sectional laboratory study revealed age-related differences in how early adolescents (ages 10–11; N = 64), mid-adolescents (ages 12–15; N = 54), and emerging adults (ages 18–25; N = 50) use facial movements and vocal cues to intentionally convey emotions. Adolescents showed lessened use of facial movements linked to prototypical expressions of happiness and fear, and less differentiated facial movements to convey distinct emotions. Early adolescents also spoke louder (particularly to express happiness), slower, and with higher harmonicity than mid-adolescents and emerging adults when expressing emotions. Findings suggest that our understanding of facial and vocal cues involved in emotional expression may not generalize to adolescents, and that nonverbal communication patterns may mature into adult-like forms during adolescence.
Keywords:
age differences
communication
emotion
expression
nonverbal
AI Summary

AI Summary

Key information extracted from the uploaded paper, including a brief overview, abstract, background, key highlights, visual analysis, and future outlook.

Journal

Developmental Science cover
Developmental Science
IF:
3.2
Papers:
2.9K
Citations:
9.5K

Organization

Q
queen's university
Scholars:
832
Papers: 395
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers