Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence

Johannes Klackl; Jens Blechert; Anja Lender; Eva Jonas

doi:10.31234/osf.io/25htf

Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence

Johannes Klackl^*
, Jens Blechert
, Anja Lender
, Eva Jonas

^*Corresponding author for this work

Psychology

Research output: Working paper/Preprint › Preprint

Abstract

Across species, valence and motivational direction are inextricably linked (organisms usually approach good things and avoid bad things), and overriding these links is experienced as conflicting. However, not all negative emotions are linked to avoidance motivation. Therefore, positive conflict (avoiding positive stimuli) should produce conflict more reliably than negative conflict (approaching negative stimuli). In the present ERP study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We presented participants with positive and negative words that they had to approach or avoid. Consistent with our proposition, positive conflict created stronger behavioral and neural effects than negative conflict; Positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. Event-related potentials related to conflict (N450 and conflict slow potential) were only sensitive to positive conflict.

Original language	English
Publisher	PsyArXiv
Number of pages	30
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/25htf
Publication status	Published - 20 Jun 2024

Keywords

approach
avoidance
motivation
event-related potential
manikin task

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

501 Psychology

Access to Document

10.31234/osf.io/25htfLicence: CC BY

From anxiety to approach - Testing a unified model of threat and defense
Jonas, E. (Principal Investigator) & Klackl, J. (Co-Investigator)
1/09/15 → 31/12/20
Project: Research
Doktoratskolleg Imaging the Mind: Connectivity and Higher Cognitive Function
Schabus, M. (Principal Investigator), Wilhelm, F. (Co-Investigator), Hutzler, F. (Co-Investigator), Jonas, E. (Co-Investigator), Klimesch, W. (Co-Investigator), Kronbichler, M. (Co-Investigator), Perner, J. (Co-Investigator), Pletzer, B. A. (Co-Investigator), Aichhorn, M. (Co-Investigator), Blechert, J. (Co-Investigator), Heib, D. P. J. (Co-Investigator), Hödlmoser, K. (Co-Investigator), Klackl, J. (Co-Investigator), Krenn, A. (Co-Investigator) & Schurz, M. (Co-Investigator)
1/03/15 → 28/02/19
Project: Research

Cite this

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title = "Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence",

abstract = "Across species, valence and motivational direction are inextricably linked (organisms usually approach good things and avoid bad things), and overriding these links is experienced as conflicting. However, not all negative emotions are linked to avoidance motivation. Therefore, positive conflict (avoiding positive stimuli) should produce conflict more reliably than negative conflict (approaching negative stimuli). In the present ERP study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We presented participants with positive and negative words that they had to approach or avoid. Consistent with our proposition, positive conflict created stronger behavioral and neural effects than negative conflict; Positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. Event-related potentials related to conflict (N450 and conflict slow potential) were only sensitive to positive conflict.",

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author = "Johannes Klackl and Jens Blechert and Anja Lender and Eva Jonas",

year = "2024",

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language = "English",

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TY - UNPB

T1 - Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence

AU - Klackl, Johannes

AU - Blechert, Jens

AU - Lender, Anja

AU - Jonas, Eva

PY - 2024/6/20

Y1 - 2024/6/20

N2 - Across species, valence and motivational direction are inextricably linked (organisms usually approach good things and avoid bad things), and overriding these links is experienced as conflicting. However, not all negative emotions are linked to avoidance motivation. Therefore, positive conflict (avoiding positive stimuli) should produce conflict more reliably than negative conflict (approaching negative stimuli). In the present ERP study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We presented participants with positive and negative words that they had to approach or avoid. Consistent with our proposition, positive conflict created stronger behavioral and neural effects than negative conflict; Positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. Event-related potentials related to conflict (N450 and conflict slow potential) were only sensitive to positive conflict.

AB - Across species, valence and motivational direction are inextricably linked (organisms usually approach good things and avoid bad things), and overriding these links is experienced as conflicting. However, not all negative emotions are linked to avoidance motivation. Therefore, positive conflict (avoiding positive stimuli) should produce conflict more reliably than negative conflict (approaching negative stimuli). In the present ERP study, we tested this assumption by contrasting positive and negative conflict. We presented participants with positive and negative words that they had to approach or avoid. Consistent with our proposition, positive conflict created stronger behavioral and neural effects than negative conflict; Positive conflict prolonged reaction times more than negative conflict did. Event-related potentials related to conflict (N450 and conflict slow potential) were only sensitive to positive conflict.

KW - approach

KW - avoidance

KW - motivation

KW - event-related potential

KW - manikin task

U2 - 10.31234/osf.io/25htf

DO - 10.31234/osf.io/25htf

M3 - Preprint

BT - Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence

PB - PsyArXiv

ER -

Conflict in a word-based approach-avoidance task is specific to positive valence

Abstract

Keywords

Fields of Science and Technology Classification 2012

Access to Document

Projects

From anxiety to approach - Testing a unified model of threat and defense

Doktoratskolleg Imaging the Mind: Connectivity and Higher Cognitive Function

Cite this