Science of Emotion and Sensibility

Loneliness, a well-established risk factor for mental health, has been strongly associated with low subjective well-being (SWB). However, less is known about potential boundary conditions that may ameliorate this ‘dark side’ of loneliness. Social connections are critical for SWB based on innate evolutionary traits; a lack of belonging was directly harmful to human survival in the past. In this study, we hypothesized that loneliness would exert a more pronounced influence on SWB when an individual’s need for others (i.e., a social resource) is perceived as high while simultaneously existing in a harsh environment. With a particular focus on urban residents in Seoul, who are presumed to be more vulnerable to loneliness, we examined whether feeling lonely matters less to SWB under favorable environmental conditions. As expected, a pilot study indicated that loneliness was less harmful to the SWB of individuals who perceived their surroundings as relatively secure and favorable. We then replicated the results in an experimental study by exposing people to cues of either a harsh (e.g., via scarcity cues) or a favorable environment.

keyword : Loneliness, Subjective Well-Being, Environmental Safety, Urban Residents

This study adopts an exploratory approach to hand rehabilitation by designing embroidered strain sensors with single- and double-layered structures. The objective is to identify suitable structural design parameters for finger motion sensing by analyzing variations in contact area and sensing performance across different sensor configurations. In the first experiment, sensors with varying stitch densities and layer structures were positioned on a 3D-printed joint model and subjected to elongation-relaxation cycles at a frequency of 1 Hz. The peak-to-peak voltage (mVp-p) of the generated signals was measured and analyzed using morphological assessment and non-parametric statistical testing. Based on these findings, the second experiment focused on double-layered sensors, developing four glove-type sensors with different stitch densities and numbers of contact points. Participants performed thumb and index finger flexion-extension tasks, and signal stability and quality were evaluated using waveform analysis and quantitative indicators. Results from the first experiment indicated that double-layered, high-density sensors produced statistically higher signal magnitudes compared to single-layered, low-density structures. Similarly, the second experiment demonstrated that the double-layered, high-density configuration yielded relatively higher signal quality. These findings suggest that sensor structure influences signal strength and that embroidery-related structural factors affect signal quality under practical conditions. Overall, this exploratory study provides foundational insights into the structural design of embroidered sensors and supports the future development of wearable technologies for hand rehabilitation.

keyword : Sensor Structure, Embroidered Strain Sensor, Contact Area-Based Strain Sensor, Joint Motion Sensor, Wearable Sensor, 센서 구조, 자수 방식 스트레인 센서, 접촉 면적 기반 스트레인 센서, 관절 동작 센서, 웨어러블 센서

Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies have been proposed as key factors that may trigger or reinforce criminal behavior; however limited studies have addressed this relationship in the Korean context. This study explored the associations between maladaptive emotion regulation strategy(emotional non-acceptance or suppression), moral emotions, and aggression. To understand these characteristics’ relationships with criminal behavior, moral emotions were measured in incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals, and analyses were conducted to determine the pathways connecting emotional non-acceptance to aggressive tendencies (in non-incarcerated individuals) and criminal behavior (in incarcerated individuals). Mediation analyses performed for each group revealed that moral emotions fully mediated the relationship between emotional non-acceptance and aggressive tendencies in non-incarcerated individuals. However, no significant correlation or mediation effect was observed between emotional non-acceptance and criminal behavior in the incarcerated group. These findings indicate the importance of emotional regulation in explaining aggressive tendencies and criminal behavior and suggest that incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals may exhibit distinct patterns in these relationships.

keyword : Emotional Non-Acceptance, Emotional Suppression, Moral Emotion, Aggression, Criminal Behavior, 정서 비수용, 정서 억제, 도덕 정서, 공격성, 범죄 행동

This study compared and analyzed the characteristics of brain states by calculating brain network connectivity based on electroencephalogram data collected during resting (eyes closed/open) and cognitive processing states (abstract/verbal reasoning), and quantifying the results using graph-theoretical indices. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to structure the identified network features, revealing three distinct profiles within the resting states and two common profiles within the cognitive processing states. The psychological validity of these profiles was further verified through their associations with the six-factor personality model. Results showed that the eyes-open resting condition exhibited the highest network efficiency, suggesting that the brain manages cognitive resources more effectively during visual stimulation to minimize information processing costs. Significant differences were also observed between resting states based on the presence of visual input and increased modularity was specifically observed during abstract thinking. Through the classification of LPA profiles, the study found that even with different cognitive tasks, common patterns exist at the neural network level, and that distinct strategies (e.g., fast-and-efficient local processing versus slower-but-integrative distributed processing) can coexist. These findings indicate that functional brain network connectivity is directly linked to various mental activities.

keyword : QEEG, Resting state, Cognitive processing state, Graph theory, Latent Profile Analysis, HEXACO, 정량적뇌파, 안정상태, 인지처리상태, 그래프이론, 잠재프로파일분석, 성격6요인

This study analyzed the influence of the tactile and emotional perception of recycled fibers on consumer purchase intentions and preferences within the fashion industry. Sensory evaluations were conducted on three types of jersey knit fabrics produced with identical specifications: wool (65%)/recycled cashmere (35%), new cashmere (65%)/recycled cashmere (35%), and 100% new cashmere. Sixty-two male and female consumers in their 20s and 30s participated in two rounds of survey-based sensory evaluation. Data were analyzed using SPSS 28, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA. The first round of evaluations, conducted before providing participants with information on the fiber content, revealed that brushed recycled fibers were favorably perceived as suitable winter materials. However, in the second-round evaluation, which occurred after participants were informed about the recycled content and blending ratios, the 100% new cashmere fabric―initially rated less positively―received significantly improved evaluations, particularly in descriptors like “elegant,” “formal,” and “unique.” This was accompanied by a substantial increase in estimated price. These findings suggest that composition information plays a stronger role than tactile sensation in shaping consumer perception, as the same tactile stimulus led to reversed emotional responses once information was provided. Participants also identified the recycled fabrics based on their coarse, stiff, or synthetic-feeling tactile qualities. This study highlights the importance of enhancing consumer awareness about recycled fibers and underscores the need for effective communication strategies to foster more favorable perceptions toward sustainable fashion practices.

keyword : Consumer Perception, Price Prediction, Recycled Fiber, Sustainability, Tactile Evaluation, 소비자 인식, 가격 예측, 재활용 섬유, 지속가능성, 촉감 평가

Dawkins introduced the concepts of “imitation in a broad sense” and the “meme” to explain the principle of cultural evolution. Since then, the meme has been widely studied and cited across various fields. With the rise of PC communication, the internet, smart environments, and social networking services (SNS), meme phenomena have become increasingly pervasive, gaining social, cultural, and economic significance. This study phenomenologically analyzes and observes memes based on literature and case studies, offering a reinterpretation of the meme phenomenon through the lens of gene-culture co-evolution theory. First, imitation is defined as the acquisition of others’ thoughts, expressed as tangible or intangible products created through behavioral phenotypes. Second, the phenomenon in which a person adopts another's behavioral phenotype as it is, or reconstructs it before transmitting it to others, can be reinterpreted as the meme phenomenon. Based on this cultural transmission phenomenon, cultural evolution can be induced. Third, “memetic experience,” “meme stream,” and ‘meme impact’ vary according to “human and environmental conditions.” Memetic experience, comprising transmission, cognitive, and imitation experiences, is inherently relative, with intentional design and randomness coexisting. Meme phenomena can thus be observed and interpreted from both macro and micro perspectives, reflecting the experiences of individuals and groups. This study repositions meme theory as both a practical tool and a human-centered framework for addressing real-world challenges.

keyword : Behavioral Phenotype, Emotive Integration, Gene-Culture Co-Evolution, Imitation, Meme, Memetic Experience, 감성 융합, 모방, 밈, 밈적 경험, 유전자 문화 공진화, 행동 표현형

Mobility and physical activity are essential elements that account for an individual’s quality of life. Meanwhile, infectious diseases are expected to continue emerging or reemerging in the future. This study presents a method for designing non-contact spaces while considering users’ personal space cognition and sense of safety. We analyze a modular space plan by applying the theory of personal space, which is classified into three zones: intimate, social, and public and analyzed detailed spatial characteristics according to corresponding close, moderate, and long distances. This study presents a spatial design approach based on the three defined zones and distances. The possibility of developing a model for generating non-contact modular space plans was confirmed using generative adversarial networks. In the future, it will be necessary to develop models and tools to optimize spatial configurations by using actual user spatial behavior pattern data. This study highlights the necessity and feasibility of developing a model to interpret modular space planning through the lens of interpersonal distance, with particular attention to enhancing psychological wellbeing. Future research should involve a more comprehensive analysis of various contextual factors, including physical elements, user-related characteristics, and the social aspects of spatial environments.

keyword : Psychological Response, Personal Space, Sense of Safety, Noncontact, Spatial Design, Modular, 심리적 반응, 개인공간, 심리적 안전감, 비접촉, 공간디자인, 모듈