Journal of Ergonomics
Open Access

Abstract

Emotional Responses to Information and Warning Sounds

Daniel Vastfjall, Penny Bergman, Anders Sköld, Ana Tajadura and Pontus Larsson

Two studies examined emotional reactions to warning and information sounds. Study 1 showed that warning sounds designed to convey four levels of warning could be differentiated with self-report measures of emotional reactions. Study 2 validated this finding with physiological measures of emotion. Results are discussed in relation to creation of warning and information sounds and methods for assessing the effectiveness of such sounds.