Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words
Abstract Background Valence and motivational direction are linked. We approach good things and avoid bad things, and experience overriding these links as conflicting. Positive valence is more consistently linked with approach than negative valence is linked with avoidance. Therefore, avoiding positi...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3008 |
| _version_ | 1797802383901720576 |
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| author | Johannes Klackl Jens Blechert Eva Jonas |
| author_facet | Johannes Klackl Jens Blechert Eva Jonas |
| author_sort | Johannes Klackl |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Valence and motivational direction are linked. We approach good things and avoid bad things, and experience overriding these links as conflicting. Positive valence is more consistently linked with approach than negative valence is linked with avoidance. Therefore, avoiding positive stimuli should produce greater behavioral and neural signs of conflict than approaching negative stimuli. Methods In the present event‐related potential study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We used the manikin task, in which we read positive and negative words that they needed to approach and avoid. Results Consistent with our prediction, positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. A late (500–1000 ms following word onset) event‐related potential that we identified as the Conflict slow potential, was only sensitive to positive conflict. Conclusion The results of this study support the notion that avoiding positive stimuli is more conflicting than approaching negative stimuli. The fact that the conflict slow potential is typically sensitive to response conflict rather than stimulus conflict suggests that the manikin task primarily requires people to override prepotent responses rather than to identify conflicting stimuli. Thus, the present findings also shed light on the psychological processes subserving conflict resolution in the manikin task. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:04:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-735d73847f9a4c569c708041f6704f70 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:04:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-735d73847f9a4c569c708041f6704f702023-06-16T18:11:55ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792023-06-01136n/an/a10.1002/brb3.3008Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive wordsJohannes Klackl0Jens Blechert1Eva Jonas2Department of Psychology Paris‐Lodron University of Salzburg Hellbrunnerstrasse Salzburg AustriaDepartment of Psychology Paris‐Lodron University of Salzburg Hellbrunnerstrasse Salzburg AustriaDepartment of Psychology Paris‐Lodron University of Salzburg Hellbrunnerstrasse Salzburg AustriaAbstract Background Valence and motivational direction are linked. We approach good things and avoid bad things, and experience overriding these links as conflicting. Positive valence is more consistently linked with approach than negative valence is linked with avoidance. Therefore, avoiding positive stimuli should produce greater behavioral and neural signs of conflict than approaching negative stimuli. Methods In the present event‐related potential study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We used the manikin task, in which we read positive and negative words that they needed to approach and avoid. Results Consistent with our prediction, positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. A late (500–1000 ms following word onset) event‐related potential that we identified as the Conflict slow potential, was only sensitive to positive conflict. Conclusion The results of this study support the notion that avoiding positive stimuli is more conflicting than approaching negative stimuli. The fact that the conflict slow potential is typically sensitive to response conflict rather than stimulus conflict suggests that the manikin task primarily requires people to override prepotent responses rather than to identify conflicting stimuli. Thus, the present findings also shed light on the psychological processes subserving conflict resolution in the manikin task.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3008approachavoidanceevent‐related potentialmanikin taskmotivation |
| spellingShingle | Johannes Klackl Jens Blechert Eva Jonas Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words Brain and Behavior approach avoidance event‐related potential manikin task motivation |
| title | Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| title_full | Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| title_fullStr | Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| title_short | Conflict in a word‐based approach‐avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| title_sort | conflict in a word based approach avoidance task is stronger with positive words |
| topic | approach avoidance event‐related potential manikin task motivation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3008 |
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