Happiness feels light and sadness feels heavy: introducing valence-related bodily sensation maps of emotions

• DOI: 10.1007/s00426-022-01661-3
• Publication Date: 2022-02-28T09:02:41Z
• Authors: Matthias Hartmann; Bigna Lenggenhager; Kurt Stocker
• Keywords: Sadness; Sensation; Sensation Seeking

Bodily sensation mapping (BSM) is a recently developed self-report tool for the assessment of emotions in which people draw their sensations activation body silhouette. Following circumplex model affect, activity and valence are underling dimensions every emotional experience. The aim this study was to introduce neglected dimension BSM. We found that participants systematically report valence-related bodily lightness positive (happiness, love, pride), heaviness response negative (e.g., anger, fear, sadness, depression) with specific topography (Experiment 1). Further experiments showed both computers (using machine learning approach) humans recognize better when classification based on combined activity- BSMs compared either type BSM alone (Experiments 2 3), suggesting types reflect distinct parts emotion knowledge. Importantly, it clearer indicate induced by sadness depression terms weight than 4), added value particularly relevant at end spectrum.