An investigation of how formal features in audio-visual narratives influence audience members' empathy and prosocial behaviour
Final Report Abstract
The purpose of this proposed project was to advance knowledge on the role of audio-visual formal features in the social impact of fictional filmic narratives. Fictional filmic narratives have a powerful impact on individuals’ empathy, and consequently prosociality, being fundamental components of a well-functioning human society. The effect of prosocial story content on audiences’ responses are relatively well-documented. However, research on audio-visual story form has been sparse. To address this research gap, the present project investigated the impact of audio-visual formal features of narrative fiction films on empathic responses in viewers, and examined how individual differences in empathy and related traits may moderate this effect. In this project, we moved beyond manual coding of stylistic features and dichotomous categories by using computerized formal analysis that allowed for continuous measures at high resolution and accuracy. The analysis of formal features included shot scale, face depiction, camera angle, camera perspective, saturation, saturation variance, brightness, shadow area, contrast, visual excitement, vector motion, background clutter, shot composition, visual shot coherence, shot length – which are assumed to shape the emotional impression of a film scene. Coupled with the computerized method, a rich data set was generated, allowing for conventional hypothesis testing and advanced exploratory statistical analysis to maximize the predictive validity of models of empathy and to generate new hypotheses for use in future research. A unique aspect of the research was that it allowed for the exploration of how individual differences shaped the effect of formal features on empathy. First, we conducted a formal analysis of one hundred of film scenes. We found that features related to the representation of actors’ faces and bodies may be used to reduce the perceived distance between viewer and character, enhancing empathy directly. Second, features related to arousal and visual complexity, such as cut rate, brightness, motion, and background clutter, may be balanced to engage viewers but not overwhelm their capacity for comprehension. Finally, through the manipulation of visual shot coherence, contrast, and focal points in frame, coherence may be improved to facilitate a smooth viewing experience. Next, we conducted an experiment in which each participant was presented one of the hundred film scenes. Viewers’ emotions and empathy responses were measured. Findings showed a complex relationship of formal features and empathy, and we could identify a set of formal features that seem to be important for empathy elicitation. In the final experiment, we investigated the effect of the visual formal features of Hollywood films on different types of empathic responses (affective empathy, cognitive empathy, and empathic distress), while accounting for the moderating effect of the presentation of physical suffering, scene progression, and trait empathy. In summary, the project developed an integrative model that linked concepts in empathy and form-centered studies. Thus, we were able to integrate two previously isolated research areas and to derive generalizable knowledge on the relation of empathy, prosocial behavior, and formal features of audio-visual messages.
Publications
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Pity - the ambivalent, patronizing side of empathy? Paper presented at the Annual Conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), Prague, Czech Republic.
Bartsch, A.; Sukalla, F. & Schindler, J.
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Shot Scale and Viewers’ Responses to Characters in Animated Films. Emotion in Animated Films, 162-180. Routledge.
Bálint, Katalin E. & Rooney, Brendan
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Abbau von Stigmata durch die Paralympics. Empathie, Publikumsinteresse und Einstellungsänderung gegenüber Menschen mit Behinderungen. Vortrag auf der 2. Jahrestagung der Fachgruppe „Mediensport und Sportkommunikation“ in der DGPuK, Leipzig.
Bartsch, A. & Frey, F.
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Shaping Film: A Quantitative Formal Analysis of Contemporary Empathy-eliciting Hollywood Cinema. Presentation at the 11th Media Psychology Conference by the Media Psychology Division of the German Psychology Society, Chemnitz, Germany.
Lankhuizen, T.
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The Effects of Formal Features of Hollywood Cinema on Viewer Empathy, Engagement, and Enjoyment. Poster presented at the 11th SCSMI Conference by the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image, Hamburg, Germany.
Lankhuizen, T.
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Shaping Film: A Quantitative Formal Analysis of Contemporary Empathy-eliciting Hollywood Cinema. Presentation at the 12th SCSMI Conference by the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image, Online (COVID-19).
Lankhuizen, T.
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The Influence of Formal Features in Popular Film on Audience Empathy. Presentation at the 22nd Etmaal Conference by the Netherlands Flanders Communication Association, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Lankhuizen, T.
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Eudaimonic stories: How meaningful, moving and thought-provoking narratives can stimulate empathy and prosocial responses. Keynote at the Online Symposium Therapeutic Narratives? Processes and Effects of Eudaimonic Entertainment.
Bartsch, A.
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Rules of Engagement? The Influence of Visual Formal Features on Audience Empathy in Popular Film. Poster presented at the 12th Media Psychology Conference by the Media Psychology Division of the German Psychology Society, Aachen, Germany.
Lankhuizen, T.
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Stopping the Stigma. How Empathy and Reflectiveness Can Help Reduce Mental Health Stigma. Media Psychology, 25(3), 367-386.
Hecht, Marlene; Kloß, Andrea & Bartsch, Anne
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Style Over Substance? Quantitative Analysis of the Effects of Form on Empathy in Popular Film. Presentation at the 13th SCSMI Conference by the Society for Cognitive Studies of the Moving Image, Online (COVID-19).
Lankhuizen, T.
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The Influence of Formal Features in Popular Film on Viewer Empathy. Presentation at the 71st Annual ICA Conference by the International Communication Association, Online (COVID-19).
Lankhuizen, T.
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Depictions of Suffering and Type of Scene Progression as Moderators of Form and Viewer Empathy in Film. Presentation at the 24th Etmaal Conference by the Netherlands Flanders Communication Association, Online (COVID-19).
Lankhuizen, T.
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Personal relevance and state empathy with a character facilitates self-disclosure in film viewers. Frontiers in Communication, 7.
Bálint, Katalin; Sukalla, Freya & Rooney, Brendan
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Shaping film: A quantitative formal analysis of contemporary empathy-eliciting Hollywood cinema.. Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts, 16(4), 704-718.
Lankhuizen, Tess; Bálint, Katalin E.; Savardi, Mattia; Konijn, Elly A.; Bartsch, Anne & Benini, Sergio
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The Influence of Form on Viewer Empathy in Relation to Depictions of Suffering and Type of Scene Progression of Hollywood Film Scenes. Paper presented at the 72nd Annual ICA Conference by the International Communication Association, Paris, France.
Lankhuizen, T.
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This is emotional! Empathy during the cinematic experience. Invited talk at the Art in Conversation series at University of St Andrews.
Balint, K.E.
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The effects of shot scale and film aesthetics on cinematic absorption. Invited talk at the Symposium of Empathies, Brain, and the Moving Image at Tel- Aviv University, Israel.
Balint, K.E.
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The Psychology of Cinematography. Workshop on Intelligent Cinematography and Editing (WICED) and Emotions in Movie. University of Nantes, France.
Balint, K.E.
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Chapter 5 Audio-Visual Formal Features of Entertainment Messages. Entertainment Media and Communication, 69-84. De Gruyter.
Bálint, Katalin E.
