Tell me more ×
Cognitive Sciences Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for practitioners, researchers, and students in cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience, and psychiatry. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 2 down vote favorite

This afternoon I've been observing people at a local park and came up with some observations that lead me to this question:

Can the person's gait (manner of walking) say something about the person's internal experience at that moment? I'm thinking of arousal and cognition.

For example: Have you ever seen a businessman or an office worker walk? They walk with a purpose, quite energetically with the body slightly inclined forward. Is it feasible to say that when such walk is observed, the person is going somewhere, and may be tense?

A child may be running around with arms in the air, along an irregular path. Can it be said that such child is energetic and excited at that moment?

Two elderly people may walk very differently. One couple walks at a regular pace of 3-4mph, while another couple may push one foot in front of the other at 0.5 mph. Can this tell us anything about the differences in the mental activity that takes place within these people?

A person may be strolling slowly at <1mph, observing the environment. Can it be said that such person is calm?

It appears to me that in the examples above, the person's mood/demeanor and motion are connected.

I'm interested if there's really any correlation between how a person appears outwardly and how the person feels? In other words, if one is tense and feels pressed for time, would one start to "walk with a purpose", as opposed to strolling casually?

Thank you for your input.

share|improve this question
5  
Alex I really appreciate your enthusiasm for this site, but I think you should consider putting some more effort into prior research before asking a question here. A search on google scholar for "gait cognition" turns up this article, and several others: apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/neu-202215.pdf – Jeff Nov 12 '12 at 3:35
2  
Right, "Google it" still works, which I tend to forget at times ! :) Good article – Alex Stone Nov 12 '12 at 4:22
Also, the second paragraph suggests several other useful articles: Barberger-Gateau et al., 1997; Chen et al., 1996; Lajoie, Teasdale, Bard, & Fleury, 1996; Li, Linderberger, Fruend, & Baltes, 2001; Linderberger, Marsiske, & Baltes, 2000; Sparrow, Bradshaw, Lamoureux, & Tirosh, 2002; Brauer, Woollacott, & ShumwayCook, 2001; Brown, Shumway-Cook, & Woollacott, 1999; Maylor, Allison, & Wing, 2001; Maylor & Wing, 1996; Redfern, Muller, Jennings, & Furman, 2002; Shumway-Cook, Woollacott, Kerns, & Baldwin, 1997; Teasdale, Bard, LaRue, & Fleury, 1993 – Jeff Nov 12 '12 at 4:25

Know someone who can answer? Share a link to this question via email, Google+, Twitter, or Facebook.

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.