A density explanation of valence asymmetries in recognition memory

Memory & Cognition
Hans AlvesVaughn D Becker

Abstract

The density hypothesis states that positive information is more similar than negative information, resulting in higher density of positive information in mental representations. The present research applies the density hypothesis to recognition memory to explain apparent valence asymmetries in recognition memory, namely, a recognition advantage for negative information. Previous research explained this negativity advantage on the basis of valence-induced affect. We predicted that positive information's higher density impairs recognition performance. Two old-new word recognition experiments tested whether differential density between positive and negative stimuli creates a negativity advantage in recognition memory, over and above valence-induced affect. In Experiment 1, participants better discriminated negative word stimuli (i.e., less false alarms) and showed a response bias towards positive words. Regression analyses showed the asymmetry to be function of density and not of valence. Experiment 2 varied stimulus density orthogonal to valence. Again, discriminability and response bias were a function of density and not of valence. We conclude that the higher density of positive information causes an apparent valence asymmetry ...Continue Reading

References

Jun 1, 1992·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·J A BarghF Pratto
Jul 1, 1990·Psychological Review·A Ortony, T J Turner
Feb 1, 1986·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·R H FazioF R Kardes
Feb 1, 1971·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·P Ekman, W V Friesen
Jul 1, 1993·Psychological Review·M GlanzerK Kim
Dec 3, 1998·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·V Stretch, J T Wixted
Apr 10, 1999·Psychological Review·C J BrainerdA H Mojardin
Sep 25, 1999·Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers : a Journal of the Psychonomic Society, Inc·H Stanislaw, N Todorov
Oct 3, 1999·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·T A Busey, J L Tunnicliff
May 31, 2001·Psychological Review·S Dennis, M S Humphreys
Aug 7, 2001·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·S R Zaki, R M Nosofsky
Nov 19, 2003·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Bennet Murdock
Dec 17, 2003·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Benoît Monin
Oct 1, 1951·Journal of Experimental Psychology·L POSTMAN
Apr 22, 2004·Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition·David G Smith, Matthew J J Duncan
Apr 27, 2004·Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin·Teresa Garcia-MarquesLeonel Garcia-Marques
May 20, 2005·Memory & Cognition·Michael F Verde
Aug 20, 2005·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Midori InabaHideki Ohira
Jun 20, 2006·Cognitive and Behavioral Neurology : Official Journal of the Society for Behavioral and Cognitive Neurology·Andrew E BudsonChristopher I Wright
Aug 22, 2006·Vision Research·Steven PhillipsTakatsune Kumada
Jan 18, 2007·Psychological Review·John T Wixted
Aug 19, 2007·Psychonomic Bulletin & Review·Timothy PotterGinwan Rhodes
Jul 9, 2008·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Christian UnkelbachDaniel Danner
Oct 25, 2008·Psychological Science·C J BrainerdV F Reyna
Dec 17, 2008·Psychological Science·Christian UnkelbachJoseph P Forgas
Feb 11, 2009·Journal of Experimental Psychology. General·Zachary Estes, Lara L Jones
Feb 24, 2009·The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology : QJEP·Judit Mate, Josep Baqués
Mar 24, 2010·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Daniel LeisingUlrike Fritz
Jun 16, 2010·Journal of Experimental Child Psychology·C J BrainerdM P Toglia
Dec 7, 2013·Memory & Cognition·Michael S HumphreysJoyce Yanfang Koh
Oct 1, 2014·Psychological Research·Maria MontefineseEttore Ambrosini

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 12, 2017·Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science·Roland Imhoff, Alex Koch
May 11, 2018·Psychological Science·Hans AlvesChristian Unkelbach
May 28, 2020·Topics in Cognitive Science·Yeon Soon Shin, Sarah DuBrow
Mar 10, 2021·Nature Human Behaviour·Yeon Soon Shin, Yael Niv
Apr 21, 2021·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Christian UnkelbachHans Alves

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
Russell H FazioNatalie J Shook
International Journal of Psychology : Journal International De Psychologie
Fumiko Gotoh
Journal of Experimental Psychology. Learning, Memory, and Cognition
M GlanzerJ K Adams
Journal of Experimental Psychology
H P BAHRICK, M NOBLE
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved