In a Nervous Voice: Acoustic Analysis and Perception of Anxiety in Social Phobics’ Speech

Laukka, Petri; Linnman, Clas; Åhs, Fredrik; Pissiota, Anna; Frans, Örjan; Faria, Vanda; Michelgård, Åsa; Appel, Lieuwe; Fredrikson, Mats; Furmark, Tomas

doi:10.1007/s10919-008-0055-9

Cited by 102 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 58 publications

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“…Taken together with previously-reported findings (Galili et al 2013;Gilboa-Schechtman et al 2014;Laukka et al 2008;Weeks et al 2012), these data in their totality suggest that mean F0 emitted in response to social threat and over periods ranging as long as 10 min provides an objective and valid index relevant to social anxiety symptomatology. Collectively, the present and previous results present an informative overview of speech acoustic-related tendencies characteristic of SAD.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…The latter possibility could be attributed to a variety of factors, ranging from sociocultural context to menstrual cycle effects upon vocal pitch (e.g., see Boone et al 2010). In addition, it is worth noting that previously-reported post-pharmacotherapy decreases in state anxiety in SAD patients were accompanied by corresponding decreases in mean and maximum vocal pitch, and this clinical sample included women (Laukka et al 2008); moreover, both Galili et al (2013) and Gilboa-Schechtman et al (2014) found that mean F0 related positively to social anxiety symptoms for both men and women in unselected samples. Thus, examination of the moderating factors of the documented (albeit less consistent) relation between increased vocal pitch and SAD in samples of women remains an important area for future research.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…The relationship between vocal pitch (F0) and social anxiety has been examined across a growing number of studies, with encouraging results. To illustrate, postpharmacotherapy decreases in state anxiety in SAD patients (including men and women) were accompanied by corresponding decreases in mean and maximum F0 during a speaking task (Laukka et al 2008). In another study, men who were either high or low in social anxiety took part in a social competition task for the positive attention of a female peer.…”

Section: Theoretical Overview: the Importance Of Vocal Pitchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

“Speaking More than Words”: Classifying Men with Social Anxiety Disorder via Vocal Acoustic Analyses of Diagnostic Interviews

Weeks

Srivastav

Howell

et al. 2015

J Psychopathol Behav Assess

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The relationship between vocal pitch and social anxiety has been examined with encouraging results across a growing number of studies, highlighting increased fundamental frequency (F0) as a potential disorder-specific physiological marker of social anxiety. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between mean F0 emitted during diagnostic interviews and social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptoms. Patients who qualified for a diagnosis of SAD (n=26) and a subsample of demographically-matched healthy controls (HCs; n=12) were administered clinical diagnostic interviews. We examined mean F0 emitted during select segments of the diagnostic interviews utilizing specialized vocal analysis equipment. Men (but not women) who qualified for a diagnosis of SAD emitted greater overall mean F0 in comparison to HCs throughout the course of the diagnostic interviews, and mean F0 emitted during the introductory segment of the diagnostic interviews was positively related to SAD symptoms for men (but not women). Furthermore, a previously-established threshold of mean F0 which demonstrated excellent differentiation between men with SAD and controls was successfully replicated in the present design, with regard to F0 emitted during the introductory segment of the interviews. These results provide strong additional support for increased F0 as a physiological indicator and behavioral marker of SAD in samples of men. Implications for the assessment and treatment of SAD are discussed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Theoretical Overview: the Importance Of Vocal Pitchmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

“Speaking More than Words”: Classifying Men with Social Anxiety Disorder via Vocal Acoustic Analyses of Diagnostic Interviews

Weeks

Srivastav

Howell

et al. 2015

J Psychopathol Behav Assess

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“…Children were also rated on the appropriateness of their speech production (speech and prosodic social behavior) and the accompanying physical behaviors (e.g., posture, facial gaze, movement; paralinguistic social behavior). In addition, we included digital analysis of vocal characteristics to quantify aspects of verbal speech not easily detected, but nonetheless affecting social relationships (Laukka et al 2008). Specifically, we analyzed low level measures of social responsiveness, including voice volume (vocal intensity) and variability in voice volume (vocal intensity variability), as well as vocal parameters known to carry the emotional aspects of the voice (pitch, pitch variability).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Social Skills Deficits and Vocal Characteristics of Children with Social Phobia or Asperger’s Disorder: A Comparative Study

Scharfstein

Beidel

Sims

et al. 2011

J Abnorm Child Psychol

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Social skills deficits are commonly reported among children with social phobia (SP) and children with Asperger's Disorder (AD); however, a lack of direct comparison makes it unclear whether these groups, both of which endorse the presence of social anxiety, have similar or unique skills deficits. In this investigation, the social behaviors of children with SP (n=30) or AD (n=30) were compared to a typically developing (TD) peer group (n=30) during structured role play interactions. Data were analyzed using blinded observers' ratings of overt behaviors and digital vocal analysis of verbal communication. Compared to children with AD and TD children, children with SP exhibited less overall social skill, an ineffective ability to manage the conversational topic (pragmatic social behavior), and deficient speech production (speech and prosodic social behavior). There were no differences in observer ratings between children with AD and TD children. However, using digital analysis of vocal characteristics (i.e., intensity, pitch), distinct vocal patterns emerged. Specifically, children with AD spoke more softly than TD children, and had lower vocal pitch and less vocal pitch variability than children with SP. This pattern may be subjectively heard as monotonic speech. Consistent with a vocal pattern associated with heightened anxiety, children with SP spoke more softly and had less voice volume variation than TD children, and had higher vocal pitch and more vocal pitch variability (jitteriness) than children with AD. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.

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“…Thus, whereas trait anxiety can be accurately perceived in visual nonverbal thin slices, it is not as readily heard in audio clips, unlike state anxiety. One audio cue to state anxiety might be increased voice pitch and jitter (Fuller, Horii, & Conner, 1992;Laukka et al, 2008); yet trait anxiety does not appear to be related to stable differences in such acoustic measures (also see Hagenaars & van Minnen, 2005). While some audio cues to state anxiety have been found, more work needs to done on this subject.…”

Section: Anxietymentioning

confidence: 99%

Thin-Slice Judgments in the Clinical Context

Slepian

Bogart

Ambady

2014

Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol.

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Clinicians make a variety of assessments about their clients, from judging personality traits to making diagnoses, and a variety of methods are available to do so, ranging from observations to structured interviews. A large body of work demonstrates that from a brief glimpse of another's nonverbal behavior, a variety of traits and inner states can be accurately perceived. Additionally, from these “thin slices” of behavior, even future outcomes can be predicted with some accuracy. Certain clinical disorders such as Parkinson's disease and facial paralysis disrupt nonverbal behavior and may impair cli-nicians' ability to make accurate judgments. In certain contexts, personality disorders, anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts and outcomes can be detected from others' nonverbal behavior. Additionally, thin slices can predict psychological adjustment to divorce, bereavement, sexual abuse, and well-being throughout life. Thus, for certain traits and disorders, judgments from a thin slice could provide a complementary tool for the clinician's toolbox.

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In a Nervous Voice: Acoustic Analysis and Perception of Anxiety in Social Phobics’ Speech

Cited by 102 publications

References 58 publications

“Speaking More than Words”: Classifying Men with Social Anxiety Disorder via Vocal Acoustic Analyses of Diagnostic Interviews

“Speaking More than Words”: Classifying Men with Social Anxiety Disorder via Vocal Acoustic Analyses of Diagnostic Interviews

Social Skills Deficits and Vocal Characteristics of Children with Social Phobia or Asperger’s Disorder: A Comparative Study

Thin-Slice Judgments in the Clinical Context

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