How emotions sculpt bodily expression: a systematic review of emotional induction, measures, and findings

This systematic review examines how emotional bodily expressions are induced, measured, and analyzed. Forty-nine studies on healthy adults were included, covering (1) measurement technologies and body-related outcomes, (2) sample characteristics, (3) methods used to elicit, portray, and assess emotions, (4) single- versus multi- channel approaches, (5) the main findings, and (6) methodological limitations.

Results reveal substantial methodological heterogeneity: bodily expressions have been assessed using a wide range of devices, each with specific constraints. Methods used to elicit or portray emotion ranged from standardised stimuli to interactive paradigms, reflecting the challenge of balancing experimental control with ecological validity. Findings are further limited by small, homogeneous samples, gender imbalance, inconsistent emotion assessment, and an overall high risk of bias.