bidirectional influences of emotion and action in evaluation of emotionally-connoted words a....
TRANSCRIPT
Bidirectional influences Bidirectional influences of emotion and action in of emotion and action in evaluation evaluation of emotionally-connoted wordsof emotionally-connoted words
A. Milhau, T. Brouillet, L. Heurley & D. Brouillet
PhD Student in Cognitive Psychology
SYNER program, EPSYLON Laboratory, Montpellier South of France
- EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011 -
Bidirectional links between language and action
Language Action
Bargh & Chainken, 1996 Glenberg, Havas, Becker & Rinck, 2005 ACE, Glenberg & Kaschak, 2002;
2EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
Bidirectional associations between emotion and motivational behaviors
Positive Approach
valence behavior
Negative Avoidancevalence behavior
Chen & Bargh, 1999; Freina, Baroni, Borghi & Nicoletti, 2009
Cacioppo, Priester & Berntson, 1993; Neumann & Strack, 2003
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But also compatibility effects between emotion and non-motivational behaviors
◦ Facial expression: smile/pout (Strack, Martin & Stepper, 1988)
◦ Head movements: nods (Wells & Petty, 1980)
◦ Lateral behaviors (Casasanto, 2009)
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Hypothesis Hypothesis If the associations between valence and laterality
are as specific as the associations concerning valence and motivational behaviors, then the relations between emotional language and lateral arm movements must be bidirectional too.
Experiment 1:
◦ Emotional words Lateral movements
Experiment 2:◦ Lateral movement evaluation of neutral words
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Experiment 1. Effect of emotional Experiment 1. Effect of emotional language on lateral non-motivational language on lateral non-motivational behaviorsbehaviors
Valence judgement task
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OR
OR
+ +- -
HAPPINESS
Hypothesis
Read emotionally-connoted words should facilitate action, allowing shorter RTs when executing compatible response movement.
Positive word : facilitation of the rightward movement.
Negative word : facilitation of the leftward movement.
7EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
Results
8EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
p<.00001
p<.000001
Facilitation only occurs for positive words, and for the movement compatible to both the valence and the hand of response: • Right hand and Response Positive to the Right• Left hand and Response Positive to the Left
Discussion
Why is the effect specific to positive words?
The evaluation of emotionally-connoted language facilitated the compatible lateral movement.
Associations between valence and laterality are dependant of the behavior of the participant.
A right-hander acting as a left-hander, even at short term, tends to (temporarily) modify those relations (see also Casasanto & Chrysikou, 2011).
9EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
Experiment 2. Effect of lateral motor Experiment 2. Effect of lateral motor action on the evaluation of neutral action on the evaluation of neutral words words
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EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
glasses glasses glasses + - - +
STEP 1 STEP 2
Hypothesis
The execution of lateral movements, linked to valence by motor fluency, should be sufficient to influence the evaluation of neutral words.
Rightward movement : positive evaluation
Leftward movement : negative evaluation
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EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
Results
The execution of lateral movements in a valence judgment task of neutral words led to an emotional connotation of words.
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EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
p<.05
Conclusion Conclusion
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EMBODIED LANGUAGE , New College Oxford, 26-28 September 2011
Emotionally-connoted word Enable the compatible behavior, in terms of motivation, or fluency
Compatibility and facilitation of a motor answer Approach/Avoidance Left/Right
Emotionnal connotation- Compatibility
positive emotion- Incompatibility
neutral emotion- Breack of compatibility
negative emotion?
Fluency of a motor behavior in a valence judgment task
EMOTION SENSORY-MOTOR COMPATIBILITY
In support to William James’ claim (1890):
Emotion is not a cause but rather a consequence of cognitive activity
Emerging from the matching between motor execution and the signification assigned to it
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