LEGO Faces: A Trend Towards Anger
Overview
LEGOs have become increasingly varied over the years, and with that variety has come a wider range of expressions for the iconic yellow minifigure. However, a recent study has found that the trend is towards angrier faces.
Study Findings
Researchers analyzed images of over 3,600 LEGO minifigure heads produced between 1975 and 2010. They found that while the majority of faces were still happy (324), the second most common expression was anger (192). This represents a significant increase in angry faces compared to previous years.
The study also found that the increase in angry faces was accompanied by an increase in the number of weapons included with LEGO characters. The researchers speculate that this shift may be related to the growing popularity of action movies and video games, many of which feature violent content.
Concerns About Angry LEGO Faces
The researchers express concern about the potential impact of angry LEGO faces on children. They note that children often use LEGOs to play out their own stories and emotions, and that exposure to angry faces could lead to increased aggression or negative self-image. However, the study did not investigate any direct links between angry LEGOs and angry kids.
Implications for Parents and Educators
Parents and educators should be aware of the trend towards angrier LEGO faces and consider how it might affect their children. They may want to encourage children to choose LEGO sets with a variety of emotions, including positive ones, and to talk to children about the importance of expressing emotions in healthy ways.
What Can Be Done?
There are a few things that can be done to address the concerns about angry LEGO faces:
- Parents and educators can encourage children to choose LEGO sets with a variety of emotions. This will help children to develop a more well-rounded understanding of emotions and how to express them in healthy ways.
- LEGO can design more LEGO sets with positive emotions. This will help to create a more balanced representation of emotions in LEGO products.
- Researchers can conduct more studies on the impact of angry LEGO faces on children. This will help to determine whether there is a causal link between exposure to angry LEGO faces and increased aggression or negative self-image in children.
Additional Information
- The study on LEGO faces was published in the journal “Emotion”.
- LEGO has been around for over 80 years.
- LEGOs are one of the most popular toys in the world.
Conclusion
The trend towards angrier LEGO faces is a cause for concern. Parents, educators, and LEGO can all play a role in addressing this issue and ensuring that children have access to a variety of emotions through LEGO play.
