Repetition and Boredom in a Perceptual Fluency/ Attributional Model of Affective Judgements

Abstract

In the present set of studies, the effect of repeated processing of stimuli on boredom was investigated using a Turkish word paradigm from earlier repetition-liking research. Words were pronounced 3, 9, or 27 times each. Study length was manipulated across three studies (short, medium, or long; total N = 186) by adding more words in order to reduce the salience of the repetition schedule. Words were also either consistently or inconsistently pronounced. In line with a perceptual fluency/attributional model, boredom appeared with increasing repetitions in the short study, but it disappeared with increasing length of the study. As the boredom effect disappeared, consistency of the pronunciation became increasingly more important for liking judgements. Follow-up ratings six months after the short study showed that liking had increased for frequently presented words, and that consistency affected liking judgements. The results show that boredom is a joint effect of increasing fluency of processing and increased probability that this effect will be attributed to liking.