Studies of Psychology and Behavior ›› 2019, Vol. 17 ›› Issue (4): 488-495.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Compatibility Effect of Approaching the Positive and Avoiding the Negative at the Conceptual Level of Psychological Distance

WU Sanmei1,2, WANG Jingxin1,3,4, HE Xianyou5, TIAN Liangsu5, ZHAO Xueru6, CHEN Guangyao7   

  1. 1. Faculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387;
    2. School of Intelligent Engineering, Guangdong AIB Polytechnic College, Guangzhou 510507;
    3. Key Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387;
    4. Center of Collaborative Innovation for Assessment and Promotion of Mental Health, Tianjin 300387;
    5. School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510631;
    6. Research Institute of Basic Education Professions, Beijing Institute of Education, Beijing 100120;
    7. Journalism and Communication College, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632
  • Received:2018-03-23 Online:2019-08-08 Published:2019-07-20

心理距离概念水平上的趋利避害相容效应

吴三美1,2, 王敬欣1,3,4, 何先友5, 田良苏5, 赵雪汝6, 陈广耀7   

  1. 1. 天津师范大学心理学部, 天津 300387;
    2. 广东农工商职业技术学院智能工程学院, 广州 510507;
    3. 教育部人文社会科学重点研究基地天津师范大学心理与行为研究院, 天津 300387;
    4. 国民心理健康评估与促进协同创新中心, 天津 300387;
    5. 华南师范大学心理学院, 广州 510631;
    6. 北京教育学院基础教育人才研究院, 北京 100120;
    7. 暨南大学新闻与传播学院, 广州 510632
  • 通讯作者: 王敬欣
  • 基金资助:
    广东省自然科学基金博士科研启动项目(2017A030310536)

Abstract: Three experiments were conducted to explore the compatibility effect of approaching the positive and avoiding the negative at the conceptual level of psychological distance by using the Implicit Association Test. In Experiment 1, the results showed that the reaction times were shorter in the congruent condition (pairings of positive words with "spatial proximity" words and negative words with "spatial distance" words) than in the incongruent conditions. It suggests that the participants tend to associate positive concept with proximal concepts and negative concept with distant concepts; and the compatibility effect of approaching the positive and avoiding the negative exists at the conceptual level of spatial distance. In Experiment 2 and Experiment 3, we explored the compatibility effect at the conceptual level of temporal distance and social distance. The results were consistent with Experiment 1. Based on these findings, we argue that the compatibility effect exists at the conceptual level of psychological distance. And it is sugessted that "psychological distance" change could be used as a criterion to define approach-avoidance behaviors.

Key words: approaching the positive and avoiding the negative, psychological distance, the Implicit Association Test

摘要: 研究采用内隐联想测验范式,通过三个实验分别从心理距离的空间、时间、社会性距离三个维度,探讨是否存在心理距离概念水平上的趋利避害相容效应。实验1的结果显示在相容条件下(即积极词和近空间距离词组合、消极词和远的空间距离词组合)被试的反应时显著小于不相容条件(即积极词和远空间距离词的组合、消极词与近空间距离词的组合),说明被试更容易将积极概念与近距离概念相联系,将消极概念与远距离概念相联系,在心理距离空间维度上存在概念水平的趋利避害相容效应。实验2和实验3分别从心理距离的时间维度和社会性维度进一步探讨该效应,得到了与实验1相一致的结果。总的结果表明,在心理距离概念水平上存在趋利避害相容效应,用心理距离的变化可以作为衡量趋避行为的标准。

关键词: 趋利避害, 心理距离, 内隐联想测验

CLC Number: