Comparing, Differentiating, and Applying Affective Facial Coding Techniques for the Assessment of Positive Emotion

Abstract

ABSTRACT Coding of facial expressions is a simple, fast, inexpensive, and straightforward method to complement self-report research. This approach is particularly relevant for assessing psychological factors such as positive emotion that may be particularly susceptible to self-report biases. The goals of this paper are to 1) provide convincing evidence that this well-validated method should be used in emotion research and 2) provide information about specific facial coding techniques to investigators who are looking to incorporate these methods into their research. We discuss the value, strengths, weaknesses, and applications of four techniques: facial electromyography (EMG), the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), computerized approaches, and modified/simplified hand coding techniques. Taken together, this paper provides a foundation from which researchers can integrate comprehensive and objective assessments of positive emotion into their investigations of human behavior and lays the groundwork for future research to build upon these facial analysis techniques.