Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-12-02
Test yourself and see how
good you are at interpreting
the various moods expressed
in the accompanying photos


outward from the body with disgust
or fear.
Throughout the ages the hand
has gathered about it wealth of symbolism,
and many customs are associated with 1t. Inc
Hand of God' is a symbol of His supreme
power We shake hands as gesture OF friend
Illness Hands laid upon the head are symbol
of benediction and the Laying on Of Hands"
is a sacrament of the Christian Church. And
holding hands is an intimate expression OF
affection as meaningful as the kiss.
Though your face might be masked your eyes
hidden and even the posture of your body be
undisclosed to the observer, still your mood OF
the moment might be revealed to him if he
could see your hands.
The extent to which even unanimated still
photographs of the hands clue to the
emotions is indicated by series of experiments
conducted by psychologists at Brown University,
Dr. Leonard Carmichael and S. o. Roberts,
and recently reported by them to the American
Psychological Association.
An actor skilled in the old school of acting
was selected to pose for a series OF photographs.
Prof. Thomas Crosby was the actor. After care
full rehearsal before mirror Prof. Crosby would
assume pose of fear, anger, or thought, or
whatever was selected for expression. Then
instead of photographing his face or his entire
figure just the hands taken they pro-
jected through dark curtain which served to
keep the remainder of his figure hidden from
view.
The photographs thus obtained later
shown to a group of judges to determine just
what was the emotion being expressed
Mo CLUE was given to the judges. They
were not given list of words to select one
which applied to the picture before them. They
were not given the smallest hint of what was
intended by the pose. They were given per-
fectly blank sheet of paper, ruled to provide IS
blanks, one for each of the IS photographs.
With it were the following instructions:
ION the paper before you are IS blanks. On
the screen will be shown IS pictures of hands
held in various positions. Write on the ap-
propriately numbered blank the best single word
which seems to describe the emotional or other
attitude which is being expressed by the indi-
Vidual whose hands you see. If absolutely neces-
sary use more than one word in your descrip-
ton"
group of students of Brown University num-
bering 348 acted as the judges. Naturally, since
they entirely without restriction in the
selection of words to describe the pictures, not
all of them would hit upon the same term for
the same picture. Yet a surprising amount Of
agreement was observed
For the hands posed in the reverent attitude
of worship, appraised with palms together IS per
cent of the 348 judges assigned the title
prayer" A pose intended to express entreaty,
called pleading by more than half of those who
named it.
pose with hands elapsed and foref1nger tips
touching intended to express thoughtfulness.
was correctly named by just a third OF the judges
who named it. Another pose with hands thrown
up, intended to express surprise, was correctly
named by 80 per cent. But another pose in
tended to convey the impression of bewilderment
was judged by 80 per cent to be pose of fear.
Might the large number of correct judgments
be due to years of theater-goi which have
taught people to know that certain gestures are
intended to indicate certain emotions?" DR..
Carmichael was asked.
"Of course we cannot be sure" he replied.
"But one fact brought out in connection with
the experiment points to a genuine association
of certain gestures postures of the hands
with certain emotions rather than conven-
tional meaning for the gestures.
after the judgments had been recorded two
oral questions were asked Have you ever had
any experience in acting, either as an amateur
or as a professionals and Did you initiate the
expression on the screen while seeking the word
for your answer
THE answers to these questions revealed that
. surprisingly large proportion-s1 per cent OF