Emotional Intensity Research Articles

Color–emotion associations by speakers of Spanish and Mandarin in verbal and visual tasks: a comparison

Abstract This study aims to determine if there are differences in color–emotion association between monolingual speakers of Spanish and Mandarin, depending on how colors are presented (verbally or visually). We tested two groups of 25 speakers of these two languages in two different tasks using the Geneva Emotion Wheel, which encompasses 20 types of emotions. In Task 1, 13 colors were presented to participants as color terms in their native language, whereas in Task 2 the same colors were presented as color patches from the Munsell chart. Participants were then asked to associate color terms or color patches to the set of emotion concepts (and intensities of emotion) in the Geneva Emotion Wheel. Overall, differences between languages were not significant, regarding either the type of emotion or individual dimensions of emotion (valence, arousal or power), although significant differences were observed for specific colors. Also, Spanish speakers tended to attribute higher intensity values and higher numbers of emotion values to colors. At the same time, speakers of both languages reacted similarly to color presentation, with color terms being associated with the same emotions as color patches, but eliciting stronger reactions with respect to intensity and the number of emotion values. Finally, we found less variability in color–emotion associations within the Spanish-speaking group. Overall, our study points to a mixed pattern of universality and culture-specificity regarding how colors are used for conveying emotions by people.

The role of hyperbole in conveying emotionality: the case of victim speech

ABSTRACT Figurative expressions are commonly used in everyday language as a device for conveying emotion. Hyperbole (e.g. “It took ages for him to arrive”) specifically can provide linguistic emphasis; especially when speakers wish to convey emotional evaluations of negative situations. In sexual crime cases, the victim’s behavioural emotionality often enhances credibility, however, some research suggests that hyperbole-induced linguistic emotionality can be perceived negatively. In this study, we examined whether hyperbole impacts perceived emotionality and assessed the extent of this impact on measures of valence, intensity, and appropriateness. Participants were professionals (police officers) or jury-eligible laypersons who rated testimonies containing either hyperbolic or non-hyperbolic expressions. Results suggested that the use of hyperbole increased the perceived emotional intensity of the testimony, but made testimonies appear less emotionally appropriate than non-hyperbolic counterparts. In addition, regardless of the presence of hyperbole, laypersons judged the scenarios to be more unpleasant, and more emotionally intense compared to professionals. Findings suggest discrepancies between hyperbole usage and discourse goals, versus its perception. That is, hyperbole effectively enhances emotionality, but its role in victim speech may come with more caveats than anticipated, particularly when considering the proposed importance of victim emotionality in establishing credibility.

Detection of Depression in Social Media Posts using Emotional Intensity Analysis

Detection of Depression in Social Media Posts using Emotional Intensity Analysis

Corporate Social Responsibility in top football league in Europe

Sport occupies a significant and impactful position in the lives of many individuals, evoking intense emotions and consistently captivating a broad audience. In today’s economy, the emphasis on sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) prompts scrutiny into whether top football clubs are actively embracing and aligning with these initiatives. To delve into this, the study focused on the top 11 clubs in the English Premier League, distinguished by revenue, and examined their expenditures on CSR initiatives. Despite heavy promotion of CSR initiatives by these clubs, analysis reveals relatively modest actual expenditures on these activities, especially when compared to leading global enterprises. The comparatively low expenditures may stem from flaws in the sports model or an overemphasis on marketing and public relations.

An Experimental Investigation of the Relationship Between Emotion Regulation Flexibility, Negative Affect and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Abstract Purpose Emerging research investigating mechanisms underpinning PTSD has identified emotion regulation (ER) flexibility – the ability to flexibly use ER strategies according to contextual demands – as one promising mechanism. To date, however, no study has investigated whether brief training in ER flexibility can minimise negative affect elicited from evocative stimuli. This study investigated the impact of instructed ER flexibility on emotional responding in probable PTSD. Methods Participants (N = 148) viewed images that differed in negative emotional intensity (high or low). For each image, participants followed instructions to adopt either a flexible or inflexible ER approach through randomisation to either an ER flexible condition or one of three control conditions (Inflexible Reappraisal, Inflexible Distraction, Context Insensitive). In the ER Flexible condition, participants were instructed to switch between distraction and reappraisal according to the emotional intensity of the image. The control conditions required participants to either employ a single ER strategy (Inflexible Distraction and Inflexible Reappraisal) or switch between strategies in a way that did not align with image intensity (Context Insensitive). Negative affect was rated after each image. Results Participants with probable PTSD in the ER Flexible condition demonstrated the lowest levels of negative affect. For participants without probable PTSD, negative affect did not differ between the ER conditions. Conclusions Findings suggest that individuals with probable PTSD benefitted from being instructed in ER flexibility. This finding supports the adaptiveness of ER flexibility and provides a preliminary temporal link between instructed ER flexibility and improved emotional responding for those with PTSD.

The Effect of Combinations of Task Relevance and Message Components on Construal Level and Purchase Intent: An Experimental Study on Female Students

We conducted two experiments to determine how the combination of task relevance, loss framing, and psychological distance affects changes in construal level, emotion intensity, and purchase intent. Experiment 1 investigated how construal level fit between the loss and proximal frames affected emotion intensity and purchase intention for skin beauty items among 217 female students in their 20s using the construal matching hypothesis (CMH). Experiment 2 examined how changes in construal level caused by the combination of task relevance and loss framing affect purchase intention among 41 female students in their 20s. We discovered that combining the loss and proximal frames boosted the emotional intensity of worry and raised purchase intention for low-concept marketed products. Meanwhile, the loss frame message produced a high construal level through self-affirmation in individuals with high task relevance, lowering purchase intention for advertising that emphasized tangible facts. We provide an in-depth discussion of the implications and limitations of our findings, as well as future research prospects.

Differentiating anticipated and anticipatory emotions and their sensitivity to depressive symptoms.

Anticipated emotions are the feelings one expects if a hypothetical future event were to occur, whereas anticipatory emotions are those one experiences right now while imagining the event. There has been little direct comparison of these two forms of future-oriented emotion, and authors have typically focused on positive emotions (e.g., pleasure). Besides, their sensitivity to depressive symptoms-which may help to explain motivational problems in depression-has only recently been investigated (e.g., Anderson et al., 2023; Gamble et al., 2021). The present study (conducted September-November 2022) used innovative picture-and-text vignettes depicting everyday positive and negative future events, to which participants rated their anticipated and anticipatory responses on separate dimensions of valence (i.e., how positive or negative) and arousal (i.e., emotional intensity). Based on prior literature, anticipatory emotions were expected to be correlated with, yet weaker than, anticipated emotions, reflecting a conceptualization of anticipatory emotions as a "foretaste" of the affective response one expects in the future. We also predicted that high depressive symptoms would coincide with diminished emotion ratings overall and specifically for anticipatory emotions (tightly coupled with event expectations; Carrera et al., 2012). Results largely supported these preregistered predictions, yet anticipatory emotions (positive and negative) were only weaker in more highly depressed participants. Depressive symptoms may therefore affect how one currently feels about future possibilities without altering one's expectations of how such events would actually feel. Implications and future research objectives arising from this are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Social bonding through shared experiences: the role of emotional intensity.

Sharing emotions with other individuals is a widespread phenomenon. Previous research proposed that experiencing intense and similar emotions with other individuals reinforces social bonds. However, several aspects of this phenomenon remain unclear, notably whether social bonding requires the convergence and synchronization of emotions in the group, and whether these effects generalize across positively valenced and negatively valenced emotional contexts. To address these questions, we measured subjective emotional experiences, physiological activity (cardiac, respiratory, electrodermal) and social attitudes in dyads of unacquainted individuals who watched videos in the presence of each other. We manipulated the emotional content of the videos and the type of shared attention between participants, to test for the contribution of interpersonal influence. The results revealed that intense emotions indexed by physiological arousal were associated with the emergence of reciprocal prosocial attitudes within dyads, and that this effect depended on joint attention. We did not observe the convergence and synchronization of emotions within dyads, which suggests that experiencing similar emotions was not necessary for social bonding. We discuss implications of this study for research on collective effervescence and the social consequences of shared experiences.

Longitudinal relationships between emotional processes and perceived performances among athletes: The moderating effect of emotional intelligence

ObjectivesBased on emotional intelligence (EI) theory and cognitive motivational relational theory of emotions, this study aimed to explore longitudinal relationships between the core constructs of the emotional process (appraisals, coping and emotions) and perceived performances during competition and to examine the moderating role of EI on these relationships. MethodsA total of 453 athletes (Mage= 20.6; 117 females and 336 males) from different sports and different competitive levels participated in the study. Appraisals, coping, emotions, and perceived performances were assessed after five competitions across the season and EI was assessed at the beginning of the competitive season. Hierarchical linear modelling analyses were conducted to: (a) Evaluate the mediational role of coping strategies on the appraisals – emotions relationships and on the appraisals – perceived performances relationships; (b) explore the mediational role of emotions on the appraisals – perceived performances relationships; and (c) test the moderating role of EI on these relationships. ResultsThe results showed that: (a) coping played a mediational role on the appraisals-emotions relationships; (b) emotions mediated the appraisals-perceived performances relationships; and (c) EI moderated the aforementioned relationships between the core constructs of emotional process and perceived performances. ConclusionsAs a whole, this study furthered knowledge about the ways the core emotional constructs are interrelated and impact perceived performances within competitive settings. Through coping strategies and cognitive appraisals, EI was associated with higher intensity of pleasant emotions and perceived performances. As an applied implication, we encourage sport psychologists and coaches to provide training programs aimed at enhancing EI.

Enhancing Multisensory Virtual Reality Environments through Olfactory Stimuli for Autobiographical Memory Retrieval

This paper examines the use of multisensory virtual reality (VR) as a novel approach in psychological therapy for autobiographical memory retrieval with benefits for cognitive enhancement, stress reduction, etc. Previous studies demonstrated improved outcomes in treating various psychological conditions (affective disorders and PTSD). Technological advancements in VR, such as olfactory integration, can contribute to the realism and therapeutic potential of these environments. The integration of various physical stimuli with VR holds promising potential for psychological therapies and highlights the need for further interdisciplinary research. In this pilot study, we tested the efficacy of a new system for triggering autobiographical memory retrieval. For this, we used images combined with odors in a congruent manner and offering participants the chance to interact with the VR environment by using two virtual hands. We evaluated the efficacy of this system using qualitative methods, with emphasis on the evaluation of the emotions associated with memory recollection and the ease of triggering memories. All participants in our pilot study experienced intense emotions related to childhood or adolescence, and the pleasant feelings they had during the experiment persisted even after it ended. This is an advancement to what exists currently and provides original research elements for our paper.

Humanizing Different Archetypal Expressions of Gender Expansiveness1.

This article explores the concept of gender expansiveness. This term refers to a person's self-identifying as gender fluid, genderqueer, transgender, non-binary, gender diverse, or gender nonconforming. Young people, including older children and adolescents, increasingly are experimenting with crossing gender lines. This trend can be understood as a sociocultural process for humanizing more terrifying archetypal forms of gender diversity. Using Henderson's (1988) concept of the cultural unconscious, the author posits that current social developments among youth are attempting to bring gender expansiveness more into collective consciousness. This issue has occasioned a strong counterreaction with panicked appeals to upholding traditional gender norms and needing restrictions on gender-affirming care. Examples from myth, literature and clinical practice help to contextualize the intense emotions aroused by gender diversity. A case example shows how gender fantasies are worked through within an empathic analytic relationship. The author makes an appeal for updating and humanizing older psychological theories that have relied heavily on splits, polarities, and oppositions, all of which are more characteristic of a 20th century way of thinking about the psyche. A potential approach to incorporate gender expansiveness is through a model of the psyche as a mosaic.

Examining the Role of Neuroticism Polygenic Risk in Late Life Cognitive Change: A UK Biobank Study.

Cognitive decline is a public health concern affecting about 50 million individuals worldwide. Neuroticism, defined as the trait disposition to experience intense and frequent negative emotions, has been associated with an increased risk of late-life cognitive decline. However, the underlying biological mechanisms of this association remain unknown. This study investigated the relationship between genetic predisposition to neuroticism, computed by polygenic risk score (PRS), and performance in cognitive domains of reasoning, processing speed, visual attention, and memory in individuals over age 60. The sample consisted of UK Biobank participants with genetic and cognitive data available (N = 10,737, 4686 females; mean age = 63.4 ± 2.71). The cognitive domains were assessed at baseline for all participants and seven years later for a subset (N = 645, 262 females; mean age = 62.9 ± 2.44). Neuroticism PRS was not associated cross-sectionally with cognitive measures (p > 0.05). However, the trajectory of change for processing speed (β = 0.020; 95% CI = [0.006, 0.035], adjusted p = 0.0148), visual attention (β = -0.077; 95% CI = [-0.0985, -0.0553], adjusted p = 1.412 × 10-11), and memory (β = -0.033; 95% CI = [-0.0535, -0.0131], adjusted p = 0.005) was significantly associated with neuroticism PRS. Specifically, a higher genetic predisposition to neuroticism was associated with less decline in these cognitive domains. This trend persisted after sensitivity analysis using complete cases, although it only remained nominally significant for visual attention.

The association between interoception and olfactory affective responses

Odors are known to affect an individual’s emotions and physiological states. Recent research has revealed that olfaction is linked to the mental representation of internal sensations, known as interoception. However, little research has examined how interoception relates to emotional responses to odors. This research aimed to fill this gap in the literature. We conducted two studies with a total of 548 Japanese women (n = 500 and n = 48 in Studies 1 and 2, respectively). Study 1 used an online survey to assess the relationship between self-reported interoceptive traits and the intensity of positive emotions in response to daily odors. Study 2 examined how self-reported interoceptive traits modulated the arousal ratings of odors presented in the laboratory and the concordance between these perceived arousal ratings and odor-evoked physiological responses. Study 1 confirmed that self-reported interoceptive traits were significant predictors of positive emotional intensity of odors. In Study 2, individuals with high interoceptive measure scores showed concordance between their perceived emotional arousal and the physiological responses associated with that emotion, whereas individuals with low scores did not. These findings suggest that how people perceive their internal sensations contributes to shaping their olfactory affective experiences, thereby broadening the scope of interoception research and aromachology. The practical implications of these findings for the development of commercial fragrances are discussed.

Exploring Emotion Control and Alexithymia in Autistic Adults: An Ecological Momentary Assessment Study.

Difficulties in controlling emotions - a proxy for emotion dysregulation (ED)-and difficulties in expressing feelings in words-'absence of emotion labelling' or alexithymia-co-exist in autism and contribute to elevated levels of impulsive and suicidal behaviour. To date, studies linking the two phenomena have relied on retrospective self-reported measures, lacking support for generalizability to real-life situations. The present study investigated in vivo emotion labelling and its impact on emotion control in 29 autistic adults without intellectual disability (ASC) and 28 neurotypical (NT) individuals of similar age, sex, and educational level. Participants were trained in an Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to label their emotions, the arousal dimension, and their emotion control via smartphone over a one-week period. Findings showed that the ASC group experienced more instances of 'having an emotion that I cannot name' and, when they were able to label their emotions, they reported higher rates of negative and conflicting (simultaneously positive and negative) emotions. In both groups, the absence of emotion labelling, and intense negative emotions were associated with impaired emotion control. However, the association between lack of emotional awareness-'I have no emotion'-and impaired emotion control was only evident in ASC individuals. Our study highlights a nuanced facet of emotional processing in the ASC population. Further research is needed to gain a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between ED and alexithymia in autism.

Alexithymia and Emotion Regulation: the Role of Emotion Intensity

Alexithymia and Emotion Regulation: the Role of Emotion Intensity

Klingsor Syndrome (Self-Emasculation): About a Case and Literature Review

Self-mutilation is a behavior in which an individual deliberately inflicts more or less severe injuries on their own body. This behavior is often, but not exclusively, a way for individuals to manage intense emotions, relieve emotional or psychological pain, or punish themselves. Self-mutilation can be observed in various psychiatric contexts, including personality disorders, mood disorders, and psychotic disorders. This psychiatric manifestation, which transcends diagnostic categories, can involve various types of self-harm to different parts of the body, including the genitals, known as Klingsor Syndrome. Inspired by a fictional character from Wagner’s opera, Klingsor Syndrome is a term used to describe extreme cases of self-destructive behavior where an individual, often in a psychotic state, inflicts severe injuries on their genital organs. This syndrome is often associated with psychosensory or intrapsychic hallucinations and delusional ideas occurring within the context of acute or chronic psychotic disorders. Treatment is multidisciplinary, involving surgical repair and rigorous psychiatric follow-up. In this paper, we report the case of genital self-mutilation occurring in a psychotic patient.

Experience of final exam stress from Polish high school students. The narrative of COVID-19 Pandemic Generation

Introduction: For many students worldwide, school achievements and final exams results are a significant challenge and are understood as determinates of their future college and university education, as well as their professional career. The COVID-19 pandemic not only forced schools to close and a ban on gatherings, but also introduced many new solutions and measures regarding the conduct of final exams, for which students had been preparing for years. In Poland, the government shut schools in 2020, two months before the usual time for final exams. This significant factor required modification in the manner and course of the final stage of preparation for the ‘maturity’ exam, which resulted in limited contact with teachers and peers, leading to intense emotions and personal challenges. Method: The study aim was to point out the specific COVID-19 stress experience of high school students who were on the verge of graduating. 120 high school students from South Poland [40 men (33%) and 80 women (66%), aged 18-19 years], who were preparing for the final high school exam in Poland in 2020, participated in the online survey. Phenomenological content analysis of the structured open-ended questionnaire was used. Results: It was found that the subjective experiences of students were mostly negative to Covid-19 restrictions and remote learning, expressed not only as negative emotions to the new, surprising, and hence fearful situation, but also as negative attitude s towards routine changes. The strong need to develop new adaptation mechanisms necessary to cope with the isolating circumstances was also explored. Conclussions: The study provides new supplements on mental health prevention (not only during pandemic) in students who were on the verge of graduating.

Emotional Expressions and First Impression Formation in Social Media Profiles

ABSTRACT This study conducted an online experiment with 384 participants to explore the mechanisms through which viewers form initial impressions of strangers based on their emotional self-disclosure in social media profiles. The findings revealed that positive emotional expressions fostered a higher degree of interpersonal liking and trust than negative emotional expressions. The relationship between emotional valence and interpersonal liking was partially mediated by perceived appropriateness and perceived similarity. Judgments of interpersonal trust were fully mediated by the perceived appropriateness and perceived similarity of emotional expressions. The study further discovered an interaction between emotional valence and intensity, such that the effect of emotional valence on perceived similarity became more pronounced when emotional intensity was high. The findings underscored the significant influence of emotional expressions on the development of interpersonal liking and trust on social media. The study also specified two inferential processes (perceived appropriateness and perceived similarity) underlying these effects and highlighted the moderating role of emotional intensity. The theoretical and practical implications were also discussed.

Neural response to vocal emotional intensity in youth

Neural response to vocal emotional intensity in youth

How does emotional content influence visual word recognition? A meta-analysis of valence effects

AbstractResearch on the interplay between language and emotion has shown evidence that the affective content of words influences their recognition. However, the direction of the effects is not clear, as there are mixed findings regarding the role of positive and, especially, negative valence. We conducted a Bayesian multi-level meta-analysis to examine the role of valence in visual word recognition, focusing on the lexical decision task. The results revealed a facilitative effect of positive valence on lexical decision times. That is, positive words led to faster responses than both negative and neutral words. In contrast, negative valence did not have any effect, although the analysis of several moderator variables suggested that there might be a facilitative effect in some cases, specifically, when negative words elicit very strong and intense emotions. These results shed light on the complexities of emotional word processing. They also point to the need for psycholinguistic models to take affective information into account, and thus provide a complete view of visual word recognition.