Previous research has observed that approach motivation can both increase and decrease attentional breadth. How does the same motivation have these seemingly divergent effects? Three studies tested the hypothesis that mental construal levels help to determine the breadth of approach-motivated attention. In all studies, construal levels were manipulated to be high or low and breadth of attention was assessed in the context of high approach motivation. Study 1 found that higher trait approach motivation predicts increased attentional breadth, but only following the induction of a high-level (versus low-level) mental construals. Study 2 found that, while viewing images of appetitive objects (i.e., desserts), high-level construals increased attentional breadth relative to low-level construals. Study 3, however, found little evidence that high (versus low) construal levels influenced attentional breadth while viewing images of appetitive or neutral objects. These results help to reconcile divergent past findings regarding approach motivation and breadth of attention, but the results fall short of providing definitive evidence for the hypothesized role of mental construal levels in approach-motivated attentional breadth.

Theories of emotion see affective processes as important in guiding behaviour, and social/cognitive theories have implicated cognitive appraisals in a motivational context. The control-value theory combines these approaches, predicting that high levels of expectancy and control lead to associated levels of anticipatory affect in those approaching a goal. This theory, combined with literature on approach motivation in depression, led to the proposed model of the effect of depression on behavioural striving, and subsequent levels of depression. The current study aimed to test this model. Sixty participants completed measures of depression, approach-related affect, cognitive appraisals and striving behaviour in relation to their own personal goals, with follow-up measures of depression and striving behaviour completed two weeks later. They also participated in an experimental manipulation of approach-related cognitive appraisals. The model received mixed support, with strongest evidence for the proposed pathway from depression to anticipatory affect via cognitive appraisals, especially for those who were at least mildly depressed. However contrary to the model, depression was not found to be associated to striving, and no variables other than depression predicted future depression. The study was conducted with a non-clinical population, there was reduced power at follow-up, and the experimental manipulation may have been unsuccessful. This study provided preliminary support for the new model, and although findings were mixed, future research may be more conclusive. Findings suggest that therapy specifically tapping into approach-related cognitive appraisals, as well as approach-related affect, may be therapeutically beneficial in working with depression.

The emotion hypothesis of startle eyeblink modification posits that potentiated eyeblinks are observed in response to fear/disgust (aversive) pictures and eyeblink inhibition occurs in response to pleasant (appetitive) pictures due to the degree to which the stimuli match with the aversive startle probe. Stimuli high in arousal elicit exaggerated responses. Four studies sought to investigate the effect of angering pictures on the startle eyeblink response. Three potential hypotheses were posed: 1) given anger's high levels of arousal and negativity, eyeblinks will be potentiated like those to fear/disgust pictures; 2) given anger's arousing and appetitive qualities, eyeblinks will be inhibited like those to pleasant pictures; 3) anger's arousal, negativity, and approach qualities will balance each other out causing eyeblinks resembling those in response to neutral pictures. Study 1 supported the third hypothesis in that eyeblinks to angering and neutral pictures did not differ, despite angering pictures being rated higher on arousal and anger and lower in valence. These results replicated in Study 2 with a different set of angering pictures. Also, Study 2 demonstrated that dysphoric participants exhibited potentiated eyeblinks during angering pictures much like eyeblinks during fear/disgust stimuli, whereas non-dysphoric participants did not. Ratings of pictures on arousal, valence, and anger did not differ between groups. Constructive patriotism related to inhibited eyeblinks during angering pictures. Study 3 found that dysphoric participants rated angering pictures higher in fear than did non-dysophoric participants, suggesting that the potentiated eyeblinks observed in Study 2 were a result of greater perceived fear. Study 4 again showed that eyeblinks during angering and neutral pictures did not differ, and that constructive patriotism related to inhibited eyeblinks. Taken together, results are consistent with the third hypothesis and suggest that angering stimuli elicit eyeblinks much like those to neutral stimuli due to the competing influences of arousal, valence, and motivation on the startle eyeblink reflex.

No description available.

Background: The Behavioural Activation System dysregulation theory of Bipolar Disorder (BD) proposes that (hypo)manic episodes represent prolonged periods of elevated approach-motivation and high-activation positive affect (PA). Excessive goal-setting behaviour and increased engagement in stimulating activities have been found amongst people with BD and may interact with elevated approach-motivation, contributing to an “upward spiral”. Hypotheses were: both i) approach-related behaviours in response to PA; and ii) high-activation PA, will be more common in individuals with BD than those without; iii) individuals with BD will be more likely to respond to high-activation PA than to low-activation PA with approach-related behaviours, compared to individuals without BD. Method: Individuals with BD and a non-clinical control group were tested. Participants completed measures of current hypomanic/depressive symptoms, trait PA, and two versions of two measures of response to PA, asking about low-activation and high-activation PA. Results: The BD group used more approach-related responses to PA, particularly within high-activation mood states, compared to controls. The groups differed in their experience of different types of PA, due to the control group experiencing more low-activation PA. Limitations: It is unclear whether the findings are specific to BD or affective disorders in general, due to a lack of a clinical control group. The groups may also differ in their expectations of PA due to medication use and previous experience of mania. Conclusions: It may be therapeutically beneficial to help individuals with BD use non-approach-related strategies in response to high-activation PA. Further research would identify which strategies are most useful.

This study examines the valence and motivational direction components of affect using facial expressions of determination, anger and joy. Determination is a positive, approach-related emotion; anger is a negative, approach-related emotion; and joy is a positive, low-approach emotion. Thus, determination and anger share a motivational direction, but determination and joy share a valence. Participants created facial expressions intended to express joy, anger, fear, sadness, disgust and determination. Naive judges attempted to identify these expressions. Correct identifications of intended determination expressions were positively correlated with misidentifications of the expressions as anger, suggesting that determination is perceived as more similar to anger than to joy. This emphasizes the importance of the motivational component of emotion, as distinct from the valence of emotion.

No description available.

Parmi les stimuli environnementaux, la couleur est une expérience perceptuelle omniprésente. Elle est capable d’infléchir la motivation d’approche et d’évitement des individus sans qu’ils en aient conscience. Elliot et ses collaborateurs (2007) ont en en effet montré qu’en contexte d’accomplissement, le rouge agissait subtilement sur les processus cognitifs et moteurs en évoquant une menace. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’enrichir ce paradigme des couleurs à l’aide de variables et de tâches non testées. Notre travail a tout d’abord montré l’effet délétère du rouge sur la variabilité de la fréquence cardiaque et la mémoire de travail lors d’un test cognitif. Cet effet négatif a ensuite été mis en évidence sur l’efficience motrice lors d’une tâche de force maximale. Sur la base d’une validation partielle en langue française du questionnaire de mesure des tempéraments (Elliot & Thrash, 2010), il a ensuite été suggéré que l’effet débilitant du rouge sur la mémoire pouvait être modulé par le tempérament d’évitement. Enfin, nous avons étudié de façon exploratoire la modulation de l’effet menaçant du rouge par l’origine culturelle. Les différentes significations accordées au rouge par des étudiants chinois et français pourraient être à l’origine d’une modulation de l’effet de cette couleur sur l’efficience motrice. / Among the environmental stimuli, the color is a ubiquitous perceptual experience. It is able to influence the approach and avoidance motivation outside of consciousness. Elliot and colleagues (2007) have indeed shown that in an achievement context, red acts as a subtle threat-cue on cognitive and motor processes. The aim of this thesis was to extend this empirical and theoretical work, using novel variables and tasks. Our results have first shown the deleterious effect of red on the heart rate variability and the working memory in a cognitive test, and then on the motor efficiency during a maximum voluntary contraction task. Based on a partial French validation of the approach-avoidance temperament questionnaire (Elliot & Thrash, 2010), it was then proposed that the negative effect of red on the memory could be modulated by the avoidance temperament. Finally, we have studied in an exploratory fashion the modulation of the threatening red effect by the cultural origin. Our results have suggested that differences in meanings given to red between Chinese and French students could have different consequences on motor efficiency.

Underpinned by the Behavioural Approach System (BAS) dysregulation theory of bipolar disorder (BD), five studies were conducted in non-clinical samples to; refine the measurement of state Approach Motivation (AM); measure minor increases in AM; and then finally, to investigate how this relates to attentional biases for emotional stimuli. Study 1 attempted to clarify the phenomenology of state AM and revealed four separable factors that emerged from pooled AM questionnaire items. These structures loosely mapped on hypothesized components of the BAS (Depue & Iacono, 1989) that pertain to; cognitive elements of approach motivation (feeling determined and inspired); an energized, activated state; an affective structure relating to positive mood and outlook; and finally to feelings of excitement. Studies 2 and 3 investigated the validity of the four derived factors and their parent scales against a reward-oriented laboratory induction, a psychophysiological marker of AM, and a test of the discriminative power. The validity results suggested that the most well-established of the scales, the PANAS-PA, slightly outperformed the other measures by showing the greatest response to an AM induction. A second aim was to explore the substructure of a valid measure of mania risk - the hypomanic personality scale (HPS: Eckblad & Chapman, 1986) – in relation to AM responsivity. Unexpectedly, individuals who endorsed unpredictable and changeable moods (mood volatility) displayed elevated sympathetic arousal in response to control task. On this basis, and with a view to exploring the role selective attentional processes as a mediator of AM dysregulation that is relevant to bipolar disorder, study 4 and 5 utilised PANAS-PA to replicate a bi-directional congruency-effect found in the literature between elevations in AM and attentional information-processing biases to reward-related stimuli. Results in general did not support a causal influence of AM on attentional biases, nor did the attempted manipulation of attentional biases affect downstream AM. However, there was evidence that within a stratified sample of participants who reliably responded to the AM and control conditions, those at greater risk to mania exhibited an attentional bias for both positive and negative stimuli, relative those at lower risk to mania.

Background: Exercise is recommended as a non-pharmacological intervention for individuals with a bipolar disorder diagnosis (BDD). Although physical activity can be beneficial for reducing depressive symptoms, there is preliminary evidence that high-intensity exercise can exacerbate (hypo)mania-related symptoms. Risks associated with other forms of exercise remain unknown. Method: To investigate the potential risks and benefits of low-intensity exercise, non-clinical participants were asked to either copy repetitive movements (n = 20), copy variable movements (n = 20) or watch variable movements (n = 21), following approach motivation induction. Hypomania-like symptoms, positive affect and approach motivation were measured pre-, during and post-task. Trait behavioural activation system (BAS) sensitivity was measured as a moderating factor. Results: There were no group differences in symptom change over time. BAS sensitivity did not moderate this relationship. Limitations: A predominantly student population with low average trait BAS sensitivity was studied. The reliability and validity of the approach motivation induction, mania measure and physical activity task are uncertain. Conclusions: It is unclear whether different types of low-intensity exercise are of risk or benefit for individuals prone to (hypo)mania. This area requires further investigation.