Is it through emotion that we know ourselves? : A psychophysiological investigation into self-reference and emotional valence
Year: 2008
Type: dissertation
Abstract: The aims of the present thesis were two fold. The first aim was to investigate \nthe relationship between self-referential and emotional processing. The second aim \nwas to investigate the extent to which self-referential processing is altered as a function \nof mood. In order to address these two aims, a variety of behavioural and physiological \nmeasures were recorded and a new methodology was employed in the following \nexperimental chapters. \nThe aim of experiment one was to investigate how non-dysphoric and dysphoric \nindividuals evaluate the emotional valence and self-referential content of word stimuli \nat a behavioural level. A self-positivity bias was identified in non-dysphoric \nindividuals, positive words were rated as self-referential and negative words were rated \nas non-self-referential. Compared to non-dysphoric individuals, dysphoric individualsâ \nevaluations of self-reference but not emotional valence were altered. Event-related \npotentials (ERPs) were employed in experiment two to investigate self-referential \nprocessing at a neural level. A two stage model of processing was identified in which, \nan evaluation of emotional valence was found to occur prior to an interaction between \nself-reference and emotional valence. A self-positivity bias was identified in the ERP \ncomponent known as the N400. ERP waves were more negative going to self negative \nand non-self-positive words when compared to self-positive and non-self-negative \nwords. This bias was explained in terms of the semantic mismatch hypothesis. The \naim of experiment three was to investigate how the neural processing of self-referential \nand emotional information is altered as a function of mood. Differences between nondysphoric \nand dysphoric individuals were identified during the early stages of \nii \nprocessing in an emotion task. Between group differences were identified during the \nlater stages of processing in a self-reference task, around 400 ms. Skin conductance \nand heart rate were employed in experiment four to examine autonomic responses \nduring self-referential and emotional processing in healthy individuals. Both decision-making \ntasks were found to elicit similar physiological responses. These findings were \ntaken to suggest that a large component of self-referential processing involves the \nprocessing of emotional information. Finally, the aim of experiment five was to \ninvestigate if person-referent processing was altered during the experience of a negative \nmood. The behavioural and neural responses of non-dysphoric and dysphoric \nindividuals were compared across self-referent and other-referent decision-making \ntasks. Between group differences were specific to the self-reference task at the \nbehavioural level. However, group differences were identified in both the self-referent \nand other-referent tasks at the neural level. The results provide partial support for the \nhypothesis that negative mood is associated with specific impairments in self-referential \nprocessing. \nOverall the results of the present thesis illustrate that the processing of \nemotional information plays a large role in self-referential decision-making. \nFurthermore, the N400 was found be involved in this type of decision-making at the \nsemantic level. Negative mood was associated with greater changes in self-referential \nprocessing than in other forms of emotional or person-referent processing. In the final \nchapter, a two stage model is proposed to account for self-referential processing. The \nimplications of this model are discussed in terms of two macro-cognitive theories, \ninteracting cognitive subsystems (ICS) and SPAARs. Finally, the limitations and \nfuture directions for developing this line of research are outlined.
Author: Lynn Ann Watson
Language: English
Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1603614637