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Methods to Test Visual Attention Online
Published on: February 19, 2015
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Seeing through rose-colored glasses: How optimistic expectancies guide visual attention
Laura Kress1, Mirko Bristle1, Tatjana Aue1
1Division of Experimental Psychology and Neuropsychology, Institute of Psychology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Plos One
|February 22, 2018
Summary
Optimism bias causally influences attention, guiding focus toward rewards when optimistic and punishments when pessimistic. This selective attention may explain why optimistic beliefs are resilient.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Neuroscience
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Optimism bias and positive attention bias impact mental health but are studied separately.
- Understanding their relationship can advance neurocognitive research and inform psychological disorder treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the causal relationship between optimistic expectancies and attention deployment.
- To determine if manipulated expectancies influence attention to rewards versus punishments.
Main Methods:
- Two experiments manipulated optimistic and pessimistic expectancies.
- A visual search task measured eye gaze and reaction times to positive and negative stimuli.
Main Results:
- Induced optimistic expectancies directed attention toward rewards over punishments.
- Induced pessimistic expectancies directed attention toward punishments over rewards.
- The effect of optimism on attention was more pronounced than pessimism.
Conclusions:
- Optimistic expectancies causally influence attention, favoring rewards.
- Selective attention to rewards under optimism may explain belief persistence.
- Findings clarify cognitive mechanisms of optimism and attention bias, benefiting mental health understanding.
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