Implicit association between proximity and negative representation in the structure-bound manner

ABSTRACT

The present study included two experiments to determine whether the implicit association between psychological distance and valence would differ in the context of a structure-bound manner of experiencing. In Experiment 1, participants responded to a questionnaire that assessed individual differences in this manner and completed the proximity–distance Implicit Association Test (IAT) to measure the association strength between psychological distance and valence. Specifically, to categorize stimulus words that appeared in the center of the screen, participants were required to hit the right (I) or left (E) key as quickly and accurately as possible. Results showed that higher scores on a questionnaire of structure-bound manner of experiencing were associated with stronger implicit attitudes toward the proximity–negative and distance–positive directions. In Experiment 2, participants in the repetition (i.e., structure-bound) condition repeatedly performed a negative thought task, while those in the non-repetition condition performed a task to distract themselves from repetitive negative thoughts. The post-manipulation implicit attitudes denoting the distance-negative association were stronger in repetition condition than in non-repetition condition. Theoretical and practical contributions are discussed.

L’étude présentée comporte deux expérimentations visant à déterminer si l’association implicite entre distance psychologique et valence diffèrerait selon la modalité structurelle de l’expériencing. Dans l’expérience 1, les participants répondaient à un questionnaire qui évaluait les différences individuelles de cette modalité et complétaient le test d’association implicite (IAT – Implicit Association Test) pour mesurer la force de l’association entre la distance psychologique et la valence. Spécifiquement, pour catégoriser des stimuli présentés sous forme de mots qui apparaissaient au center de l’écran, il était demandé aux participants de taper aussi vite et aussi exactement que possible la touche droite (I) ou gauche (E). Les résultats montrent qu’un score au questionnaire de modalité structurelle de l’expériencing plus élevé était associé avec des attitudes implicites plus fortes envers les directions de proximité-négative et de distance-positive. Dans l’expérience 2, les participants inclus dans la condition de répétition (c’est-à-dire liée à la structure) remplissaient à plusieurs reprises une tâche de pensée négative, tandis que ceux inclus dans la condition de non-répétition remplissaient une tâche leur étant distractive des pensées négatives. Les attitudes implicites post-manipulation indicatrices de l’association distance-négative étaient plus fortes dans la condition de répétition que dans la condition de non répétition. Les contributions théoriques et pratiques sont discutées dans l’article.

Zusammenfassung: Die vorliegende Studie beinhaltet zwei Experimente, um zu herauszufinden, ob sich die implizite Verbindung zwischen psychischer Distanz und Valenz im Kontext einer strukturgebundenen Erlebensweise unterscheiden würde. Im Experiment 1 beantworteten Teilnehmende einen Fragebogen, der individuelle Unterschiede in der Erlebensweise erfasste und füllten den Nähe-Distanz Impliziten Assoziations-Test (IAT) aus, um die Verbindungsstärke zwischen psychischer Distanz und Valenz zu messen. Speziell um Stimulus-Wörter zu kategorisieren, die in der Mitte des Bildschirms auftauchten, mussten die Teilnehmenden die rechte (I) oder die linke (E) Taste so schnell wie möglich drücken. Die Resultate zeigen, dass höhere Werte im Fragebogen zur strukturgebundenen Erlebensweise einhergingen mit einer stärkeren impliziten Haltung bezüglich einer Nähe-negativ- und einer Distanz-positiv-Ausrichtung. Im Experiment 2 führten die Teilnehmenden mit dem Wiederholungs- (d.h. strukturgebundenen) Muster wiederholt eine negative Gedankenaufgabe durch, während diejenigen mit dem Nicht-Wiederholungsmuster eine Aufgabe durchführten, um sich von repetitiven negativen Gedanken abzulenken. Die impliziten post-Manipulations-Haltungen, welche die Distanz-negativ Verbindung anzeigten, waren beim Wiederholungsmuster stärker als beim Nicht-Wiederholungsmuster. Theoretische und praktische Aspekte werden diskutiert.

Resumen: El presente estudio incluyó dos experimentos para determinar si la asociación implícita entre la distancia psicológica y la valencia diferiría en el contexto de una manera de experimentar ligada a una estructura. En el Experimento 1, los participantes respondieron a un cuestionario que evaluó las diferencias individuales de esta manera y completaron la Prueba de Asociación Implícita de proximidad-distancia (IAT) para medir la fuerza de asociación entre la distancia psicológica y la valencia. Específicamente, para categorizar las palabras de estímulo que aparecían en el centro de la pantalla, los participantes debían presionar la tecla derecha (I) o izquierda (E) de la manera más rápida y precisa posible. Los resultados mostraron que los puntajes más altos en un cuestionario de la manera de experimentar estructurada se asociaron con actitudes implícitas más fuertes hacia las direcciones de proximidad negativa y distancia positiva.

En el Experimento 2, los participantes en la condición de repetición (es decir, ligados a la estructura) realizaron repetidamente una tarea de pensamiento negativo, mientras que aquellos en la condición de no repetición realizaron una tarea para distraerse de los pensamientos negativos repetitivos. Las actitudes implícitas posteriores a la manipulación que denotan la asociación de distancia negativa fueron más fuertes en la condición de repetición que en la condición de no repetición. Se discuten las contribuciones teóricas y prácticas

O atual estudo incluiu duas experiências levadas a cabo para determinar se a associação implícita entre distância e valência psicológicas difeririam no contexto da vivência dependente da estrutura. Na experiência 1, os participantes responderam a um questionário que avaliava diferenças individuais neste modo de vivência e completaram o Teste de Associação Implícita (TAI) de proximidade-distância, por forma a medir a força da associação entre a distância e valência psicológicas. Em particular, para categorizar palavras-estímulo que surgiam no meio do ecrã, era pedido aos participantes que pressionassem o botão direito (I) ou esquerdo (E), o mais depressa e acertadamente que conseguissem. Os resultados demonstraram que pontuações mais altas num questionário de modo de vivência dependente da estrutura estavam associadas a atitudes implícitas mais fortes em relação às instruções da condição de proximidade-negativa e distância-positiva. Na experiência 2, os participantes da condição de repetição (i.e. dependente da estrutura) levaram a cabo repetidamente uma tarefa de pensamento negativo, ao passo que os da condição de não-repetição levavam a cabo uma tarefa para se distraírem dos pensamentos negativos repetitivos. As atitudes implícitas pós-manipulação que denotavam uma associação distância-negativa eram mais fortes na condição de repetição do que na de não-repetição. Discute-se os contributos teóricos e práticos.

KEYWORD:

• Impermanence Focus
• psychological distance
• structure-bound manner
• approach and avoidance

Acknowledgements

The present study was partially based on the first author’s doctoral thesis (Studies 4 and 6, corrected/added). Additionally, partial results from Studies 4 and 6 were presented as posters (Takasawa & Ito, 2010, Takasawa & Ito, 2011, respectively).

• Takasawa, K. & Ito, Y. (2010). Structure-bound manner shortens psychological distance between the self and negative representations. Association for Psychological Science 22nd Annual Convention, Boston, U.S.

• Takasawa, K. & Ito, Y. (2011). Response style as a determinant of psychological distance between the self and negative representations. Tsukuba International Conference on Memory 9th, Tokyo, Japan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Keiji Takasawa

Keiji Takasawa The first author is 39 years old and received a Ph.D. from Hosei University in 2016. His main interest is clearing a space and its therapeutic process. Now he works at the Department of Communication, Faculty of Letters, Kogakkan University as an Assistant Professor.

Yoshimi Ito

Yoshimi Ito is interested in clearing a space of focusing and Person-Centered Approach. Now he works at the Department of Psychology, University of Human Environments. He is an Emeritus Professor of Nagoya University and received a Ph.D. from Nagoya University in 1998.

Yasuhiro Suetake

Yasuhiro Suetake (Ph.D.) is Professor of Clinical Psychology at Hosei University in Tokyo, Japan, and a Person-Centered Psychotherapist in private practice. He is a co-translator of Carl Rogers’ major works in Japanese, and currently he has taken interest in Gendlin’s process model and the philosophy of the implicit.