Self-affirmation enhances processing of negative stimuli among threat-prone individuals

• Published in: Social cognitive and affective neuroscience Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 569 - 577
• Main Authors: Finley, Anna J, Crowell, Adrienne L, Schmeichel, Brandon J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 01-06-2018
• Subjects: Attentional bias; Consumer research; Electroencephalography; Emotions; Female; Humans; Inhibition (Psychology); Male; Motivation; Neuropsychological Tests; Original; Photic Stimulation; Self Concept; Self Efficacy; Young Adult; behavioral inhibition system; self-affirmation; late positive potential
• ISSN: 1749-5016; 1749-5024
• DOI: 10.1093/scan/nsy036

Abstract
Self-affirmation reduces defensive responding to self-threats. The present study extended beyond self-threats to assess affirmation’s influence on responses to negative emotional pictures as measured by the late positive potential (LPP), an event-related potential in the encephalogram that reflects motivational significance. Participants completed a trait measure of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) sensitivity. Then they affirmed (or did not affirm) a core personal value before viewing a series of emotionally evocative pictures. Affirming a core value increased LPP responses to negative emotional pictures among individuals higher in BIS. Self-affirmation thus appeared to alter the motivational significance of negative pictures among threat-prone individuals, consistent with a reduction in the defensive avoidance of aversive stimuli. These findings suggest that affirming values may influence responses associated with basic (non-self) motivational systems among individuals sensitive to threat.