University of Sussex
Browse
rspb.2021.0872.pdf (760.51 kB)

Harsh is large: nonlinear vocal phenomena lower voice pitch and exaggerate body size

Download (760.51 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-10, 01:21 authored by Andrey Anikin, Katarzyna Pisanski, Mathilde Massenet, David Reby
A lion's roar, a dog's bark, an angry yell in a pub brawl: what do these vocalizations have in common? They all sound harsh due to nonlinear vocal phenomena (NLP) - deviations from regular voice production, hypothesized to lower perceived voice pitch and thereby exaggerate the apparent body size of the vocalizer. To test this yet uncorroborated hypothesis, we synthesized human nonverbal vocalizations, such as roars, groans and screams, with and without NLP (amplitude modulation, subharmonics and chaos). We then measured their effects on nearly 700 listeners' perceptions of three psychoacoustic (pitch, timbre, roughness) and three ecological (body size, formidability, aggression) characteristics. In an explicit rating task, all NLP lowered perceived voice pitch, increased voice darkness and roughness, and caused vocalizers to sound larger, more formidable and more aggressive. Key results were replicated in an implicit associations test, suggesting that the 'harsh is large' bias will arise in ecologically relevant confrontational contexts that involve a rapid, and largely implicit, evaluation of the opponent's size. In sum, nonlinearities in human vocalizations can flexibly communicate both formidability and intention to attack, suggesting they are not a mere byproduct of loud vocalizing, but rather an informative acoustic signal well suited for intimidating potential opponents.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences

ISSN

0962-8452

Publisher

The Royal Society

Issue

1954

Volume

288

Page range

1-8

Article number

a20210872

Event location

England

Department affiliated with

  • Psychology Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2021-10-08

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2021-10-08

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2021-10-08

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Licence

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC