Shang Xu L&S Social Sciences
Measuring Individual Differences in Emotional Sensitivity
The project investigates how quickly people detect and respond to emotional changes – “emotional sensitivity.”
To do this, we use the Inferential Emotion Tracking task: participants watch video clips and continuously rate the characters’ feelings on scales of valence (positive–negative) and arousal (calm–excited). We calculate the time lag and peak alignment using cross-correlation analysis. Some individuals consistently anticipate shifts in emotion faster, while others lag behind, and these differences may relate to measures like Autism Quotient and Emotional Quotient.
Understanding these individual patterns could shed light on why some people excel at reading subtle social cues, inform interventions for those who struggle with emotion perception (for example, in autism), and guide the design of more empathetic technologies that respond in real time to users’ emotional states.
Message To Sponsor
This fellowship has been an incredible opportunity for me to grow as a researcher. Through my SURF project this summer, I was able to dive deeply into questions I am passionate about, learn new methods, and develop skills that will carry forward into my academic and professional journey. Your generous support made it possible for me to dedicate myself fully to this work, and I am truly grateful for the investment you made in my growth.