Family Friendly ControversyFamily Friendly Controversy Children’s Affective Reactions to

BODY WORLDS

Kimberly M. Burtnyk

OutlineOutline

What is BODY WORLDS?

The Research Questions

The Research Design

The Research ResultsFocus on one question

What is BODY WORLDS?What is BODY WORLDS?

BODY WORLDS • 200+ real human specimens• Specimens are Plastinated

Tissues replaced by polymer plastic through a vacuum process

Gunter von Hagens, 1995

Juan Valverde de Amusco, 1559

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A Brief History of BODY WORLDS

What is BODY WORLDS?What is BODY WORLDS?

ControversialControversial

Cultural/moral/ethical objections

Is it art or science, or both?

Risk of alienating our family visitors?

Were fears of Body Worlds’ inappropriateness for young children real or unfounded?

1. How well did adults predict the affective impact of Body Worlds on children?

– How accurately did children predict their own affective responses to Body Worlds?

– Overall, who was better at predicting child affective responses, adults or children?

The Research QuestionsThe Research Questions

The Research DesignThe Research Design

Standard Pre/Post Design

172 families interviewed prior to entering

Adults and kids interviewed separately

150 families interviewed post-visit

Affective and cognitive questions (paired pre/post)

6) How do you think you will react to seeing the exhibits? Not at all Extremely

Will you be curious? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be fascinated? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be uncomfortable?1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be interested? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be sad/upset? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you think a lot? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be confused? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be grossed out? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will you be bored? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Will it be creepy? 1 2 3 4 5 6

Measuring AffectMeasuring Affect

Analyzing Affect: Profile AnalysisAnalyzing Affect: Profile Analysis

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascinated

Uncomfortable

Interes

ted

Sad/Emotional

Confuse

d

Gross

ed out

Bored

Creep

y

Adult Self expectations

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascinated

Uncomfortable

Interes

ted

Sad/Emotional

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed o

ut Bored

Creepy

Adult Self expectations Adult expectations of Child

Step 1: Plot response means in a line graph

Step 2: Plot multiple groups to compare

Step 3: Analyzed differences for statistical significance.

Sign test (binomial) and/or t-test

Research Profile AnalysesResearch Profile Analyses

Comparisons made for the research:

1) Adult Expectations of Child vs. Child Expectations

2) Adult Expectations of Child vs. Child Outcomes

3) Child Expectations vs. Child Outcomes

1: Adult Expectations of Child1: Adult Expectations of Child

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Adult expectations of Child

1: Adult Expectations of Child vs. 1: Adult Expectations of Child vs. Child Self ExpectationsChild Self Expectations

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Adult expectations of Child Child Self expectations

2: Adult Expectations of Child2: Adult Expectations of Child

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Adult expectations of Child

2: Adult Expectations of Child vs. 2: Adult Expectations of Child vs. Child OutcomesChild Outcomes

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Adult expectations of Child Child Self outcomes

3: Child Expectations3: Child Expectations

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Child Self expectations

3: Child Expectations vs. 3: Child Expectations vs. Child OutcomesChild Outcomes

4.00

4.50

5.00

5.50

6.00

Curious

Fascin

ated

Uncomfo

rtable

Inte

reste

d

Sad/E

motio

nal

Thou

ghtful

Confuse

d

Gro

ssed

out

Bore

d

Creep

y

Child Self expectations Child Self outcomes

• While children were more bored than they expected to be, they were significantly less uncomfortable and emotional, and less confused, grossed out and afraid than adults anticipated.

• Children more reliably predicted how they would react to the exhibit than did adults.

• Overall, children were positive about the experience.

SummarySummary

• Adult fears of the inappropriateness of BODY WORLDS for young children were unfounded.

ConclusionsConclusions

Thank you!