The influence of valence states on the scope of visual attention
department or school: Arts, Faculty of
department or school: Psychology, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Maslany, Anna
issued: 2023-04-19T16:48:59Z
issued: 2023
related degree: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Emotional events can change attention to “focus on the forest” (I.e., broadened attention scope) or “focus on a tree” (i.e., narrowed attention scope). My dissertation aimed to understand the influence of valence states on attention scope. Experiments 1-3 examined the dominant theories that describe the influence of valence states on attention scope with positive, neutral, and negative states (e.g., Fredrickson, 2001;2004; Gasper & Clore, 2002). Experiment 4 examined the influence of valence states on attention scope further with attractive and repulsive states and explored an alternative theory (e.g., Harmon-Jones & Gable, 2010b). The results of these experiments showed no influence of valence states on attention scope, therefore, Experiments 5 and 6 marked a shift in my dissertation research. In these experiments, I wanted to determine if the tools I was using to pick up changes in attention scope were valid. I examined if the predicted pattern of results would occur on the Eriksen flanker task (Eriksen & Eriksen, 1974) after a broad and narrow attention scope was induced in participants. I also examined several specific variations of the Eriksen flanker task (which varied in terms of font, spacing, and visual angle), to determine if some specific variations were more effective than others at picking up changes in attention scope. In my final experiment, Experiment 7, I used one of the most promising variations of the Eriksen flanker task and I returned to the original aim of my dissertation to understand the influence of valence states on attention scope.
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/84316
note: The Influence of Valence States on the Scope of Visual Attention by Anna Maslany B.A. (Hons), University of Regina, 2011 M.A., University of Saskatchewan, 2013 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Psychology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) April 2023 © Anna Maslany, 2023 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: The Influence of Valence States on the Scope of Visual Attention submitted by Anna Maslany in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy In Psychology Examining Committee: Peter Graf, Professor, Psychology, UBC Supervisor James Enns, Professor, Psychology, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Jessica Tracy, Professor, Psychology, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Rebecca Todd, Associate Professor, Psychology, UBC University Examiner Lisa Cavanaugh, Associate Professor, Sauder School of Business, UBC University Examiner iii Abstract Emotional events can change attention to “focus on the forest” (I.e., broadened attention scope) or “focus on a tree” (i.e., narrowed attention scope). My dissertation aimed to understand the influence of valence states on attention scope. Experiments 1-3 examined the dominant theories that describe the influence of valence states on attention scope with positive, neutral, and negative states (e.g., Fredrickson, 2001;2004; Gasper & Clore, 2002). Experiment 4 examined the influence of valence states on attention scope further with attractive and repulsive states and explored an alternative theory (e.g., Harmon-Jones & Gable, 2010b). The results of these experiments showed no influence of valence states on attention scope, therefore, Experiments 5 and 6 marked a shift in my dissertation research. In these experiments, I wanted to determine if the too…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2023-05
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0431177
language: eng
degree discipline: Psychology
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Graf, Peter (Professor of psychology)
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/84316