Subjective perception of load heaviness.

This study examined human subjective perception of load heaviness. Forty-two (3 boxes × 14 weights) and 27 (3 boxes × 9 weights) experimental conditions were randomly presented to male and female participants, respectively. The results showed that the participants were not able to discriminate the effect of the box on perceived weight. The participants underestimated the weight for low weights and overestimated it for high weights. The females perceived a greater increase in weight than the males for the same increase in weight. The participants' linguistic term for perceived weight was positively correlated to the magnitude of weight. Approximately 50% of the males perceived a weight of 20 kg or over as risky, while ~60% of the females perceived a weight of 14 kg or over as risky. This study supposes that the gender difference in muscular capability is responsible for the effect of gender on the risk perception of weight.