Effects of the emotional properties of words and a manipulation of mindset on performance of an ambiguous task

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigated whether processing of an ambiguous task was influenced by the emotional properties of words or promotion of a specific mindset. Words used differed in valence and origin of an affective state (derived “from heart” or “from mind”). Mindset was manipulated by suggesting that either fast or slow performance was associated with cleverness and then having participants perform a task requiring the “smart” processing strategy. The ambiguous task was to choose which of 2 Far East hexagrams better represented a previously presented target word. Reaction latencies were measured and appeared to be longer for ambiguous task probes involving words of reflective origin rather than automatic or unspecified origin. Promotion of heuristic thinking was associated with shorter responses latencies than promotion of systematic or neutral processing. The study demonstrated that the processing mode may be promoted by means of both emotional and cognitive manipulations and each of them is working in a specific way.

KEYWORDS:

• Origin of emotions
• emotional words
• ambiguous task
• word-sign matching

Additional information

Funding

The project was funded by the National Science Centre (Narodowe Centrum Nauki) based on decision DEC-2012/07/D/HS6/02013.