A Quick Look At:
Too real means too creepy in new Disney animation – USA Today News
By Ryan Nakashima, AP Business Writer
Allow me to quote from the beginning of this article (links added):
Computer animation has a problem: When it gets too realistic, it starts creeping people out. Most recently, moviegoers complained about the near-realistic depiction of humans in Disney‘s 3-D flick Mars Needs Moms. A theory called “the uncanny valley” says we tend to feel attracted to inanimate objects with human traits, the way a teddy bear or a rag doll seems cute. Our affection grows as an object looks more human. But if it looks too human, we suddenly become repulsed. Instead of seeing what’s similar, we notice the flaws — and the motionless eyes or awkward movements suddenly make us uncomfortable.
I find the idea of an uncanny valley to be most fascinating. I would suggest that infant researchers would be well served to keep the idea of an uncanny valley in mind as they look at infant–mother interactions. Infant research tells us that from an early age infants are setup to make animate–inanimate distinctions. Effectively, infants are setup to discern between inanimate objects and animate objects (typically people). So, it stands to reason that these infant discernments are subject to the theory of the uncanny valley. Mothers who have expressionless faces (looked at experimentally using the Still Face Protocol) tend to frighten their infants in the same way the uncanny valley fills us with repulsion. The video below features the work of Edward Tronick who pioneered the use of the Still Face Protocol starting over thirty years ago. As you watch the video, see if you can’t detect when the infant goes into the uncanny valley.
I would suggest that one reason mothers exaggerate their interactions with their infants and use “motherese” (as depicted in the Tronick video above) is to protect their infants from falling into the uncanny valley. Bowlbian attachment research suggests that if a developing infant/child spends too much time in the so-called uncanny valley, an insecure attachment pattern may develop. It’s interesting to note that even as adults we are subject to falling into the uncanny valley (which spells disaster for movie animation companies like Disney). I would suggest that flirtatious behavior is what keeps a first date from falling into the uncanny valley.
Let me end this quick look by mentioning that our Foundation made a grant to support research being conducted by Beth Troutman at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. Beth’s research project is entitled Impact of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Depression and Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI). Beth’s study is fascinating in that she’s looking at a little recognized “damned if you do; damned if you don’t” situation that is increasingly popping up in the world of psycho-pharmacology. According to the model that Beth is testing, doctors are prescribing SSRI type antidepressants to mothers experiencing postpartum depression. The idea is fairly simply: it’s not a good idea for mothers to remain in a depressed state around their newborn infant. And apparently this type of psycho-pharmacological approach does work. But there’s a bug-a-boo (one that Beth is looking at experimentally): it may well turn out that SSRI type antidepressants could impede a mother’s ability to appropriately display emotion by facial expression. See the problem? The SSRI type antidepressants may allow the mother to feel better (which intuitively we should view as a good thing for the mother-infant relationship, nay, all relationships) … but … the mother’s (hypothetical) inability to appropriately display emotion by facial expression may open up the entrance to the uncanny valley (and along with it increased levels of repulsion). Beth’s research will take a first pass at seeing if this hypothesis is true and, if so, is there an optimum level of psycho-pharmacological intervention (using SSRIs) that allows for both relief from the symptoms of depression and the appropriate display of emotion by facial expression. Beth is truly looking for a “win-win” here. Once the results are available, we’ll post another update on this blog, so keep checking back.
