Understanding aggressive intent from biological motion cues

Lisa Wise, Lucy Parrington, Jason Skues, and Clare MacMahon

The aim of this study is to understand the influence of biological motion cues versus sociocultural cues on the interpretation of aggressive intent. It is currently on hold as we look for funding to assist with motion capture data. However we have moved in a slightly different direction with this work in a new project looking at perceptions of vulnerability to violent crime based on motion cues.

We are aiming to capture simulated aggressive intent using motion capture of choreographed movements generated by expert martial artists. Motion capture data will be used to create animated stimuli which will be “skinned” to project different external characteristics based on the same movement patterns. Animated stimuli may contain conflicting or congruent cues to the level of aggression in the actor, and may be combined with other implicit or explicit contextual cues (for example, negative versus positive words or situational information). Participants in the study will be asked to make decisions regarding the level of threat and degree of aggressive intent depicted in the stimuli based on biological movement, assumed gender, clothing etc. The participants will also respond to questionnaires measuring participant personality variables such as trait hostile aggression and agreeableness.

The video below shows a prototype movement signature “skinned” with different clothing and gender. The motion capture system also allows changes of perspective (side on, full facing etc) which appear anecdotally to add significantly to perceived threat.