Elaborated contextual framing is necessary for action-based attitude acquisition

Abstract

Although arm flexion and extension have been implicated as conditioners of attitudes, recent work casts some doubt on the nature and strength of the coupling of these muscle contractions and stimulus evaluation. We propose that the elaborated contextual framing of flexion and extension actions is necessary for attitude acquisition. Results showed that when flexion and extension were disambiguated via elaborated contextual cues (i.e., framed as collect and discard within a foraging context), neutral stimuli processed under flexion were liked more than neutral stimuli processed under extension. However, when unelaborated framing was used (e.g., mere stimulus zooming effects), stimulus evaluation did not differ as a function of muscle contractions. These results suggest that neither arm contractions per se nor unelaborated framings are sufficient for action-based attitude acquisition, but that elaborated framings are necessary.

Keywords:

• Attitude acquisition
• Attitude–behaviour
• Embodiment
• Arm flexion
• Arm extension

Notes

¹ The valence of the stimuli was measured using a different sample of participants (N = 73) prior to conducting the current study. Participants rated the positivity of each category prototype (–3 = extremely negative, –2 = somewhat negative, –1 = slightly negative, 0 = neutral, 1 = slightly positive, 2 = somewhat positive, 3 = extremely positive). Single samples t-tests revealed that three of the four prototypes were judged to have valence not significantly different from neutral (i.e., 0; ∣t∣s < 1.84, ps > .07). The fourth prototype was judged to be slightly (M = 1.15), but significantly, positive, p < .05. Counterbalancing of colour-category pairings, however, ensured that any effects obtained in the study proper were not due to specific stimuli.

Additional information

Funding

The research reported in this article was supported by a grant from the Asian Office of Aerospace R&D [Award number FA2386-09-4093] and a grant from the Australian Research Council [DP1095323] to Y. Kashima and S. Laham.