Perspective taking effects are modulated by the valence of stimuli

Limor Binyamin-Suissa, Shachar Hochman, Natali Moyal, Avishai Henik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Previously we found perspective taking (PT) influenced affect ratings of negative pictures more than neutral pictures. The current follow-up experiments extend that research to explore effects of perspective taking with positive valence pictures. We used stimuli consisting of neutral, happy and sad pictures. Stimuli were presented either mixed within blocks (Experiment 1) or separated by emotion (neutrals + happy/sad) into two separate blocks (Experiment 2). Participants rated (from 1‐ to 7 based on emotional strength) stimuli from different perspectives (sensitive/tough/their own, i.e., “me”). Emotional strength rating was a dependent variable. A significant interaction between valence and PT was found in both experiments. The difference between adopting sensitive and tough perspectives toward sadness was larger than toward the neutral condition, replicating our results from the previous study. The same difference (sensitive-tough) was larger toward the happiness condition than toward the neutral one (this was a trend in Experiment 1 and was significant in Experiment 2) and toward the sadness condition than toward the happy one. These results suggest that PT effects on emotional ratings are modulated by valence of stimuli.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103267
JournalActa Psychologica
Volume215
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2021

Keywords

  • 2340
  • Happiness
  • Perspective taking
  • Sadness
  • Valence

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology
  • Arts and Humanities (miscellaneous)

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