Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger
Abstract Background The incompatible response hypothesis suggests that emotions and other affective states can counteract each other when incompatible. With the present study, we focused on two negative emotions (anger and anxiety) associated with different action tendencies (approach vs. avoidance)...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Brain and Behavior |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3247 |
| _version_ | 1797632568029347840 |
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| author | Emma Elkjær Peter Kuppens Mai B. Mikkelsen Mia S. O'Toole |
| author_facet | Emma Elkjær Peter Kuppens Mai B. Mikkelsen Mia S. O'Toole |
| author_sort | Emma Elkjær |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The incompatible response hypothesis suggests that emotions and other affective states can counteract each other when incompatible. With the present study, we focused on two negative emotions (anger and anxiety) associated with different action tendencies (approach vs. avoidance). Specifically, we wanted to investigate if an anxiety manipulation, subsequent to an anger manipulation, would show a counteracting effect of the approach action tendencies associated with the initial anger manipulation and vice versa for anxiety and avoidance tendencies. Methods We conducted a preregistered online experiment (N = 173). We evaluated changes from when the individual (1) was presented with a task in relation to a specific goal (e.g., anxiety induction: recordings of students’ view on climate changes), (2) received a subsequent emotion induction framed within an unrelated task and goal (e.g., anger induction: student feedback on changes to the economic student compensation system), (3) after which they were asked to return to the initial task (e.g., from the anger induction back to the anxiety induction). Primary outcomes included visual and verbal measures of action tendencies, and secondary outcomes included appraisals and emotion experience. Results The results showed no evidence of a counteractive effect by inducing emotions unrelated to the initial task and with incompatible action tendencies. Rather, results pointed to spill‐over effects, which should be seen in light of the anger conditions resulting not only in increase anger and irritability but also anxiety and nervousness. Conclusions The lack of counteractive effects could be due to either the mixed emotions induced by the anger condition or the compatibility of motivational context (i.e., threat) of anxiety and anger. Future research needs to refine the incompatible response hypothesis, honing the ways in which incompatibility is needed for emotion alteration, for instance by investigating the role of the motivational context. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:39:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac816737fcb84a0e8ec74ab81d0a4c7d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2162-3279 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:39:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain and Behavior |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac816737fcb84a0e8ec74ab81d0a4c7d2023-11-10T06:53:59ZengWileyBrain and Behavior2162-32792023-11-011311n/an/a10.1002/brb3.3247Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and angerEmma Elkjær0Peter Kuppens1Mai B. Mikkelsen2Mia S. O'Toole3Department for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkFaculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences KU Leuven Leuven BelgiumDepartment for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkDepartment for Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Aarhus University Aarhus DenmarkAbstract Background The incompatible response hypothesis suggests that emotions and other affective states can counteract each other when incompatible. With the present study, we focused on two negative emotions (anger and anxiety) associated with different action tendencies (approach vs. avoidance). Specifically, we wanted to investigate if an anxiety manipulation, subsequent to an anger manipulation, would show a counteracting effect of the approach action tendencies associated with the initial anger manipulation and vice versa for anxiety and avoidance tendencies. Methods We conducted a preregistered online experiment (N = 173). We evaluated changes from when the individual (1) was presented with a task in relation to a specific goal (e.g., anxiety induction: recordings of students’ view on climate changes), (2) received a subsequent emotion induction framed within an unrelated task and goal (e.g., anger induction: student feedback on changes to the economic student compensation system), (3) after which they were asked to return to the initial task (e.g., from the anger induction back to the anxiety induction). Primary outcomes included visual and verbal measures of action tendencies, and secondary outcomes included appraisals and emotion experience. Results The results showed no evidence of a counteractive effect by inducing emotions unrelated to the initial task and with incompatible action tendencies. Rather, results pointed to spill‐over effects, which should be seen in light of the anger conditions resulting not only in increase anger and irritability but also anxiety and nervousness. Conclusions The lack of counteractive effects could be due to either the mixed emotions induced by the anger condition or the compatibility of motivational context (i.e., threat) of anxiety and anger. Future research needs to refine the incompatible response hypothesis, honing the ways in which incompatibility is needed for emotion alteration, for instance by investigating the role of the motivational context.https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3247action tendenciesappraisalsemotion experienceemotion inductionincompatible response hypothesis |
| spellingShingle | Emma Elkjær Peter Kuppens Mai B. Mikkelsen Mia S. O'Toole Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger Brain and Behavior action tendencies appraisals emotion experience emotion induction incompatible response hypothesis |
| title | Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| title_full | Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| title_fullStr | Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| title_full_unstemmed | Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| title_short | Can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions? Considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| title_sort | can action tendencies be counteracted by inducing incompatible emotions considering instances of anxiety and anger |
| topic | action tendencies appraisals emotion experience emotion induction incompatible response hypothesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.3247 |
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