User authentication by emotional response

A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, and wherein the program code is readable and executable by a processor to perform a method comprising:

• detecting a real-time initial emotional state of a user, wherein the real-time initial emotional state of the user is a current version of an emotional state of the user that dynamically changes over time, and wherein detecting the real-time initial emotional state of the user in real-time is performed by:
• identifying a time of day for the real-time;
• and
• determining the real-time initial emotional state of the user based on the time of day for the real-time;
• presenting content to the user as a stimulus to the user, wherein the content is presented after the user is in the real-time initial emotional state;
• predicting a predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user, wherein the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user is predicted to be caused by the content being presented to the user, and wherein the predicted post-stimulus emotional state is dependent upon the real-time initial emotional state of the user;
• detecting a real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user, wherein the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user is caused by the content being presented to the user, and wherein the real-time post-stimulus emotional state is dependent upon the real-time initial emotional state of the user;
• matching the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user to the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user;
• and
• in response to the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user matching the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user, authenticating the user and activating an access mechanism for a device.

A computer system comprising one or more processors, one or more computer readable memories, and one or more computer readable non-transitory storage mediums, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer readable non-transitory storage mediums for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more computer readable memories, the stored program instructions executed to perform a method comprising:

• detecting a real-time initial emotional state of a user, wherein the real-time initial emotional state of the user is a current version of an emotional state of the user that dynamically changes over time, and wherein detecting the real-time initial emotional state of the user in real-time is performed by:
• identifying a time of day for the real-time;
• and
• determining the real-time initial emotional state of the user based on the time of day for the real-time;
• presenting content to the user as a stimulus to the user, wherein the content is presented after the user is in the real-time initial emotional state;
• predicting a predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user, wherein the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user is predicted to be caused by the content being presented to the user, and wherein the predicted post-stimulus emotional state is dependent upon the real-time initial emotional state of the user;
• detecting a real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user, wherein the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user is caused by the content being presented to the user, and wherein the real-time post-stimulus emotional state is dependent upon the real-time initial emotional state of the user;
• matching the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user to the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user;
• and
• in response to the real-time post-stimulus emotional state of the user matching the predicted post-stimulus emotional state of the user, authenticating the user and activating an access mechanism for a device.