The contemptuous separation: Facial expressions of emotion and breakups in young adulthood |
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Authors: | SAEIDEH HESHMATI DAVID A. SBARRA ASHLEY E. MASON |
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Affiliation: | 1. Pennsylvania State University;2. University of Arizona;3. University of California, San Francisco |
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Abstract: | The importance of studying specific and expressed emotions after a stressful life event is well known, yet few studies have moved beyond assessing self‐reported emotional responses to a romantic breakup. This study examined associations between computer‐recognized facial expressions and self‐reported breakup‐related distress among recently separated college‐aged young adults (N = 135; 37 men) on four visits across 9 weeks. Participants' facial expressions were coded using the Computer Expression Recognition Toolbox while participants spoke about their breakups. Of the seven expressed emotions studied, only Contempt showed a unique association with breakup‐related distress over time. At baseline, greater Contempt was associated with less breakup‐related distress; however, over time, greater Contempt was associated with greater breakup‐related distress. |
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