Assessment of emotional states by measuring the pressure exerted on the seat

Abstract

We developed a method for estimating people’s emotional states by measuring the pressure exerted on their seats. We focused on approach and avoidance behaviors associated with emotional states and evaluated positive and negative emotions using the movement of a person’s center of gravity by measuring the pressure on their seats when they were watching positive, negative, or neutral film-clips. The results showed that the subjective ratings of the films-clips fit the expected emotions. Moreover, participants’ center of gravity, as measured by the seat pressure, was directed backward when watching negative film-clips. These results suggest that seat pressure could be an alternative measure of negative emotions that does not interrupt a person’s work or require attaching sensors.