Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability

Recent research debates the effects of exposure to narrative fiction on recognition of mental states in others and self, referred to as Theory of Mind. The current study explores the mechanisms by which such effects could occur in fictional film. Using manipulated film scenes, we conducted a between...

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Main Authors: Brendan Rooney, Katalin E. Bálint
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02349/full
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spelling doaj-1650c09de7114f34a8872c87f2a9211b2020-11-25T01:06:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782018-01-01810.3389/fpsyg.2017.02349281376Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not AbilityBrendan Rooney0Katalin E. Bálint1Katalin E. Bálint2School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Dublin, IrelandTilburg Center for Cognition and Communication, Tilburg University, Tilburg, NetherlandsInstitute for Media, Knowledge and Communication, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, GermanyRecent research debates the effects of exposure to narrative fiction on recognition of mental states in others and self, referred to as Theory of Mind. The current study explores the mechanisms by which such effects could occur in fictional film. Using manipulated film scenes, we conducted a between subject experiment (N = 136) exploring how film shot-scale affects viewers’ Theory of Mind. Specifically, in our methods we distinguish between the trait Theory of Mind abilities (ToM ability), and the state-like tendency to recognize mental states in others and self (ToM tendency). Results showed that close-up shots (compared to long shots) of a character was associated with higher levels of Theory of Mind tendency, when the facial expression was sad but not when it was neutral. And this effect did not transfer to other characters in the film. There was also no observable effect of character depiction on viewers’ general Theory of Mind ability. Together the findings suggest that formal and content features of shot scale can elicit Theory of Mind responses by directing attention toward character mental states rather than improving viewers’ general Theory of Mind ability.http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02349/fulltheory of mindshot scaleclose up shotfacial expressioncharactersfilm
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Brendan Rooney
Katalin E. Bálint
Katalin E. Bálint
spellingShingle Brendan Rooney
Katalin E. Bálint
Katalin E. Bálint
Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
Frontiers in Psychology
theory of mind
shot scale
close up shot
facial expression
characters
film
author_facet Brendan Rooney
Katalin E. Bálint
Katalin E. Bálint
author_sort Brendan Rooney
title Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
title_short Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
title_full Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
title_fullStr Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
title_full_unstemmed Watching More Closely: Shot Scale Affects Film Viewers’ Theory of Mind Tendency But Not Ability
title_sort watching more closely: shot scale affects film viewers’ theory of mind tendency but not ability
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Psychology
issn 1664-1078
publishDate 2018-01-01
description Recent research debates the effects of exposure to narrative fiction on recognition of mental states in others and self, referred to as Theory of Mind. The current study explores the mechanisms by which such effects could occur in fictional film. Using manipulated film scenes, we conducted a between subject experiment (N = 136) exploring how film shot-scale affects viewers’ Theory of Mind. Specifically, in our methods we distinguish between the trait Theory of Mind abilities (ToM ability), and the state-like tendency to recognize mental states in others and self (ToM tendency). Results showed that close-up shots (compared to long shots) of a character was associated with higher levels of Theory of Mind tendency, when the facial expression was sad but not when it was neutral. And this effect did not transfer to other characters in the film. There was also no observable effect of character depiction on viewers’ general Theory of Mind ability. Together the findings suggest that formal and content features of shot scale can elicit Theory of Mind responses by directing attention toward character mental states rather than improving viewers’ general Theory of Mind ability.
topic theory of mind
shot scale
close up shot
facial expression
characters
film
url http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02349/full
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