Authors :
Varun Singh; Jim Saroj Winston
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 4 - April
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/4bsd7u69
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/56epe8zp
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24APR313
Abstract :
This study investigates how experience and
gender influence the perception of emotions in dog barks.
Drawing from Morton's structural-motivational rule and
previous research on mammalian vocalizations, we aimed
to discern whether humans, especially those experienced
with dogs, can accurately identify emotions such as
stranger, anger, lonely, and play in dog barks. Using
recordings of Indian Lesser Spitz barks in various
contexts, we conducted auditory-perceptual experiments
with two groups: experienced listeners (with more than 2-
3 years of pet dog experience) and non-experienced
listeners. Participants listened to bark sequences and
identified the corresponding emotions. Results revealed
that experienced listeners consistently outperformed non-
experienced ones in identifying emotions, except for
'play,' where no significant difference was observed.
Gender did not significantly affect emotion perception.
Interestingly, 'anger' was most accurately identified
across both groups, followed by 'stranger,' 'play,' and
'lonely' emotions. Analyzing open-ended responses, we
found that acoustic cues such as pitch and inter-bark
intervals strongly influenced emotional perception.
'Stranger' barks were described as low-pitched, while
'anger' barks had shorter inter-bark intervals. 'Lonely'
barks were characterized by high pitch and longer inter-
bark intervals than 'play' barks. These findings suggest
that experience plays a crucial role in accurately
perceiving emotions in dog barks, aligning with the
concept of a common mammalian heritage in emotional
communication. Gender differences were negligible in
this context. Understanding the acoustic cues underlying
emotional expression in dogs enhances our
comprehension of canine behavior and has implications
for fields like animal welfare and neuroscience. Further
research could delve deeper into the mechanisms
underlying emotional perception in non-verbal
communication across mammalian species.
Keywords :
Emotions, Canis Familiaris, Human Perception, Emotion Perception.
This study investigates how experience and
gender influence the perception of emotions in dog barks.
Drawing from Morton's structural-motivational rule and
previous research on mammalian vocalizations, we aimed
to discern whether humans, especially those experienced
with dogs, can accurately identify emotions such as
stranger, anger, lonely, and play in dog barks. Using
recordings of Indian Lesser Spitz barks in various
contexts, we conducted auditory-perceptual experiments
with two groups: experienced listeners (with more than 2-
3 years of pet dog experience) and non-experienced
listeners. Participants listened to bark sequences and
identified the corresponding emotions. Results revealed
that experienced listeners consistently outperformed non-
experienced ones in identifying emotions, except for
'play,' where no significant difference was observed.
Gender did not significantly affect emotion perception.
Interestingly, 'anger' was most accurately identified
across both groups, followed by 'stranger,' 'play,' and
'lonely' emotions. Analyzing open-ended responses, we
found that acoustic cues such as pitch and inter-bark
intervals strongly influenced emotional perception.
'Stranger' barks were described as low-pitched, while
'anger' barks had shorter inter-bark intervals. 'Lonely'
barks were characterized by high pitch and longer inter-
bark intervals than 'play' barks. These findings suggest
that experience plays a crucial role in accurately
perceiving emotions in dog barks, aligning with the
concept of a common mammalian heritage in emotional
communication. Gender differences were negligible in
this context. Understanding the acoustic cues underlying
emotional expression in dogs enhances our
comprehension of canine behavior and has implications
for fields like animal welfare and neuroscience. Further
research could delve deeper into the mechanisms
underlying emotional perception in non-verbal
communication across mammalian species.
Keywords :
Emotions, Canis Familiaris, Human Perception, Emotion Perception.
