Cinematic Suspense On The Heart Rate
Emmanuela Kubari
Period 2
IB Biology SL
Cinematic Suspense on the Heart Rate
Research question: What is the effect of suspenseful movie scenes from Jaw on the Heart Rate
Hypothesis: Suspenseful movies tend to trigger emotional release because films tend to transmit ideas through emotions rather than through intellect. It is an interesting thing to consider, given the fact that the person is just sitting there watching images. Therefore, it is surprising to see the effects that suspense has on the body during a movie. People who enjoy intense movies tend to be the ones who love the adrenaline rush from activities like skydiving, mountain climbing, and other extreme adventures. Therefore, during the suspenseful scenes in the movie Jaw, the …show more content…
subjects will have quickened pulses and their blood will pump through the body faster.
Variables:
Independent variable: Suspenseful movie scenes from Jaw
Dependent variable: Five different takes of blood pulse from the subjects
Control:
1. The duration of time each scene will be played
2.
The environment each subject will be exposed to (The living room)
3. The same five people
4. Three test trials
Materials:
The movie Jaw on Netflix (five timed scenes)
Timer
Fit-O-Matic heart Rate monitor
Comfortable Blankets and pillows
Popcorn
Methods:
The movie had been previously viewed and the scenes were preselected based on how suspenseful each scene was
The movie,Jaw, was set up on the plasma T.V
There were three scenes set up: three suspenseful or dramatic scenes and three calm ones
Three subjects were selected to view the film and the viewings were done separately
Each subject’s heart rate was monitored by a Fit-O-Matic heart rate meter. It attaches at the earlobe and can be monitored without interrupting the subject from viewing the movie
The subjects were seated comfortably on the couch, while their heart rate was monitored from behind to avoid any distractions.
Each scene was set up for thirty seconds and the subject was unaware on which scene they were watching (scary or calm)
The heart rate was measured right after each scene
The subjects continued viewing scene after scene and each time their heart rate was monitored and recorded
Data:
Subjects
Calm 1
Scary 1
Calm 2
Scary 2
Calm 3
Scary 3
Subject 1
80
120
78
116
84
123
Subject 2
72
115
74
118
75
126
Subject 3
81
95
76
90
77
88
Average
77.7
110
76
108
79
112.3
Average Calm Heart Rate
77.6 beats per minute
Average Scare Heart Rate
110.1 beats per minute (41.9% increase)
Results:
The average heart rate of the subjects increased from 77.6 beats per minute when they were watching calm scenes in a film to 110.1 beats per minute (41.9% increase) when they were watching scary scenes in the same film (Table 1). However, Subject 3 heart rate did not increase as dramatically as the other two subjects.
Period 2
IB Biology SL
Cinematic Suspense on the Heart Rate
Research question: What is the effect of suspenseful movie scenes from Jaw on the Heart Rate
Hypothesis: Suspenseful movies tend to trigger emotional release because films tend to transmit ideas through emotions rather than through intellect. It is an interesting thing to consider, given the fact that the person is just sitting there watching images. Therefore, it is surprising to see the effects that suspense has on the body during a movie. People who enjoy intense movies tend to be the ones who love the adrenaline rush from activities like skydiving, mountain climbing, and other extreme adventures. Therefore, during the suspenseful scenes in the movie Jaw, the …show more content…
subjects will have quickened pulses and their blood will pump through the body faster.
Variables:
Independent variable: Suspenseful movie scenes from Jaw
Dependent variable: Five different takes of blood pulse from the subjects
Control:
1. The duration of time each scene will be played
2.
The environment each subject will be exposed to (The living room)
3. The same five people
4. Three test trials
Materials:
The movie Jaw on Netflix (five timed scenes)
Timer
Fit-O-Matic heart Rate monitor
Comfortable Blankets and pillows
Popcorn
Methods:
The movie had been previously viewed and the scenes were preselected based on how suspenseful each scene was
The movie,Jaw, was set up on the plasma T.V
There were three scenes set up: three suspenseful or dramatic scenes and three calm ones
Three subjects were selected to view the film and the viewings were done separately
Each subject’s heart rate was monitored by a Fit-O-Matic heart rate meter. It attaches at the earlobe and can be monitored without interrupting the subject from viewing the movie
The subjects were seated comfortably on the couch, while their heart rate was monitored from behind to avoid any distractions.
Each scene was set up for thirty seconds and the subject was unaware on which scene they were watching (scary or calm)
The heart rate was measured right after each scene
The subjects continued viewing scene after scene and each time their heart rate was monitored and recorded
Data:
Subjects
Calm 1
Scary 1
Calm 2
Scary 2
Calm 3
Scary 3
Subject 1
80
120
78
116
84
123
Subject 2
72
115
74
118
75
126
Subject 3
81
95
76
90
77
88
Average
77.7
110
76
108
79
112.3
Average Calm Heart Rate
77.6 beats per minute
Average Scare Heart Rate
110.1 beats per minute (41.9% increase)
Results:
The average heart rate of the subjects increased from 77.6 beats per minute when they were watching calm scenes in a film to 110.1 beats per minute (41.9% increase) when they were watching scary scenes in the same film (Table 1). However, Subject 3 heart rate did not increase as dramatically as the other two subjects.