A Derived Transformation of Valence Functions Across Two 8-Member Comparative Relational Networks

Abstract

The emergence of transitive relations between stimuli that had never been directly paired with one another can be examined through a phenomenon called Transitive Inference (TI). The present experiment explored contextually controlled TI effects in verbally able humans. Specifically, participants were trained in the conditional discriminations A1+B1-, B1+ C1-, C1+D1-, D1+E1-, E1+F1-, F1+G1-and G1+H1-in the presence of a cue (Cue 1), followed by tests for mutual and combinatorial entailment in the presence of either Cue 1 or Cue 2. Note that Cue 1 and Cue 2 had been previously established as functionally equivalent to happier-than and unhappier-than contexts, respectively. Using a performancebased measure of Bimplicit preferences,^we predicted that successfully demonstrating entailment would yield a performance indicating C1 as more positively valenced than F1. Similarly, if participants learned the discriminations A2+B2-, B2+C2-, C2+D2-, D2+E2-, E2+F2-, F2+G2-, G2+H2-in the presence of Cue 2 only, followed by tests for entailment in the presence of both Cues 1 and 2, we predicted that C2 should be responded to as more negatively valenced than F2. Performances across both conditions supported these predictions, furthering the evidence for the claim that emotional valences can be derived through functionally transitive stimulus-stimulus relations.

Transforming valences through transitive inference: How are faces emotionally dissonant?

“…Continuing along the line of some recent findings (e.g., Amd & Roche, 2015;Silveira et al, 2015), emotional TOF studies using faces have highlighted the importance of membership within newly established relational structures (versus preexisting ones; see Lakens, Semin, & Foroni, 2012) in manipulating stimulus valence (Amd & Roche, 2016). This is why blurred faces were employed as stimuli in the present study, given previous findings showing happiness/valence TOF effects as most pronounced when emotionally masked faces are embedded in relational structures (Amd, 2014;Amd & Roche, 2015; but see Amd, Barnes-Holmes, & Ivanoff, 2013, for a non-face-related exception). This may have to do with the conspecific nature of faces, which humans can discriminate accurately from early in life (e.g., Bonatti, Frot, Zangl, & Mehler, 2002).…”

“…Furthermore, if membership within a relational structure does not suffice to alter the valence of its related elements in accordance with the series (cf. Amd & Roche, 2015), we will have a clearer understanding of how dissonant emotions can arise from elements that otherwise participate in the same relational structure.…”

“…This allowed us to determine whether the emotional valence of an already salient stimulus could be altered in accordance with the transformations for other members of a series (Amd & Roche, 2016). In turn, this will inform us as to whether valence TOF is affected more so by the highly salient emotional element (which was the participant's own face in the present experiment) through associative transfer processes (e.g., Bialer, 1961) or the structure of the relational series involved (Amd & Roche, 2015). Either finding will highlight the role of TOF in relation to emotional dissonance.…”

“…Such studies typically explore the emotion-eliciting functions of various facial characteristics (e.g., Leopold & Rhodes, 2010). By employing faces whose emotional-eliciting features have been concealed (as per the recommendations of Bassili, 1979), however, it becomes possible to understand the effect of relational structure membership on their valences, rather than the perception of facial features per se (Amd & Roche, 2015). Continuing along the line of some recent findings (e.g., Amd & Roche, 2015;Silveira et al, 2015), emotional TOF studies using faces have highlighted the importance of membership within newly established relational structures (versus preexisting ones; see Lakens, Semin, & Foroni, 2012) in manipulating stimulus valence (Amd & Roche, 2016).…”

“…By employing faces whose emotional-eliciting features have been concealed (as per the recommendations of Bassili, 1979), however, it becomes possible to understand the effect of relational structure membership on their valences, rather than the perception of facial features per se (Amd & Roche, 2015). Continuing along the line of some recent findings (e.g., Amd & Roche, 2015;Silveira et al, 2015), emotional TOF studies using faces have highlighted the importance of membership within newly established relational structures (versus preexisting ones; see Lakens, Semin, & Foroni, 2012) in manipulating stimulus valence (Amd & Roche, 2016). This is why blurred faces were employed as stimuli in the present study, given previous findings showing happiness/valence TOF effects as most pronounced when emotionally masked faces are embedded in relational structures (Amd, 2014;Amd & Roche, 2015; but see Amd, Barnes-Holmes, & Ivanoff, 2013, for a non-face-related exception).…”