Research into masks shows that traumatic experiences influence the perception of disturbing images

The human visual system is a dominant part of brain processes and navigation of the world. To better understand one aspect of this system, researchers from Drexel University’s College of Nursing and Health Professions examined how life experiences influence a person’s perception of images, particularly decorated masks.

The study, published in Frontiers in psychologyexamined viewers’ reactions to images of disturbing and neutrally decorated masks and whether personal life history, particularly past experiences of trauma and difficulties, influenced the way the person perceived the images.

The research team, led by Girija Kaimal, EdD, associate professor, and Asli Arslanbek-Evci, recent PhD, both from the College of Nursing and Health Professions, found that traumatic life events influence the perception of trauma-related images. , and that neutral images generally evoked fewer emotional responses in viewers than those depicting moral, psychological, or physical wounds.

“This shows the important associations between personal trauma experiences and how we respond to visual images,” says Kaimal.

“It is important that health care providers and caregivers are aware of the vulnerabilities and sensitivities to visual imagery for individuals with a history of experiencing or witnessing trauma. Furthermore, researchers can use these methods to understand the differences in brain function and structure associated with traumatic understand events better.” experiences,” said John Williamson, Ph.D., co-author of the paper and associate professor at the University of Florida.

Kaimal added that in addition to its practical implications for improving therapeutic practices and supporting trauma recovery, the research highlights our collective sensitivities as a society to the impact of viewing disturbing images.

The research team found that responses to masking image content (traumatic versus neutral) were related to viewers’ personal history of adversity and trauma. Specifically, images representing injury/trauma elicited stronger responses on positive/negative emotional responses (valence) and arousal scales than neutral images.

“We found that images with intense emotional content, including fear and pain, are more likely to evoke heightened emotions and a sense of personal relevance in individuals who have experienced adversity and trauma in their lives,” Arslanbek-Evci said.

“This does not necessarily indicate negative consequences of viewing disturbing content. Instead, it may indicate that people connect with imagery in different ways. For individuals who have experienced trauma, they may experience both emotional activation and resonance (a sense of personal connection) with graphics that depict distress.”

Study participants took an anonymous online survey in which they responded to a series of mask images and completed the life events checklist, which asks whether they had witnessed, experienced, or heard about a series of traumatic events. The images of the masks include artwork created by service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depicting physical, psychological and moral wounds. Those images were combined with neutral masks made by the research team. Nearly 700 participants rated 98 masks based on their arousal, emotional response and perceived personal relevance.

“Mask images were used because they mimic the human face and it has a clear brain pathway in terms of recognition, responses to pain, empathy and similar interpersonal responses,” Kaimal said. “In the art therapy profession, mask making is recognized as a safe and effective medium that allows individuals to gain psychological distance for the purpose of self-expression and is used to represent transformation and growth.”

Kaimal and Arslanbek-Evci explained that this research shows how impactful images can be in all aspects of life, including from mass communication, public health and mental health perspectives. Evocative images have the power to both promote a sense of personal connection and activate emotions related to past experiences. They hope that further research can explore how these differ based on age, gender, type of trauma history and different types of images, such as humans, nature or the environment, among others.