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Negative triangles : simple geometric shapes convey emotional valence

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Watson, Derrick G. , Blagrove, Elisabeth, Evans, Chesney and Moore, Lucy. (2012) Negative triangles : simple geometric shapes convey emotional valence. Emotion, Vol.12 (No.1). pp. 18-22. ISSN 1528-3542

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/a0024495

Abstract

It has been suggested that downward pointing triangles convey negative valence, perhaps because they mimic an underlying primitive feature present in negative facial expressions (Larson, Aronoff, and Stearns, 2007). Here, we test this proposition using a flanker interference paradigm in which participants indicated the valence of a central face target, presented between two adjacent distracters. Experiment 1 showed that, compared with face flankers, downward pointing triangles had little influence on responses to face targets. However, in Experiment 2, when attentional competition was increased between target and flankers, downward pointing triangles slowed responses to positively valenced face targets, and speeded them to negatively valenced targets, consistent with valence-based flanker compatibility effects. These findings provide converging evidence that simple geometric shapes may convey emotional valence.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Subjects:

B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Q Science > QA Mathematics

Divisions:

Faculty of Science > Psychology

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):

Emotions, Affect (Psychology), Shapes, Triangles

Journal or Publication Title:

Emotion

Publisher:

American Psychological Association

ISSN:

1528-3542

Official Date:

February 2012

Dates:

Date	Event
February 2012	Published

Volume:

Vol.12

Number:

No.1

Page Range:

pp. 18-22

Identification Number:

10.1037/a0024495

Status:

Peer Reviewed

Publication Status:

Published

Access rights to Published version:

Restricted or Subscription Access

References:

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