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Being In Front Is Good-But Where Is In Front? Preferences for Spatial Referencing Affect Evaluation
Andrea Bender1,2, Sarah Teige-Mocigemba3, Annelie Rothe-Wulf4
1Department of Psychosocial Science, University of Bergen.
Cognitive Science
|May 23, 2020
Summary
Spatial language influences how we perceive objects. Even when the same object is perceived as "in front," its positive evaluation changes when the frame of reference shifts, impacting valence.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Linguistics
- Social Cognition
Background:
- Spatial language often links location with valence (e.g., "social ladder").
- The sagittal axis (front/back) may also show valence associations.
- Conceptualizing relative locations depends on the adopted frame of reference (FoR).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if differing frames of reference (FoR) impact the evaluation of objects based on their relative location.
- To determine if "in front" is consistently evaluated more positively than "behind" across different linguistic groups.
- To explore the influence of linguistically imparted FoR preferences on evaluative processes.
Main Methods:
- Two studies utilized the implicit association test.
- Participants' evaluations of objects in "front" versus "behind" positions were measured.
- Cross-linguistic comparisons were made among German, Chinese, and Japanese speakers.
Main Results:
- Speakers of German, Chinese, and Japanese evaluated objects "in front" more positively than those "behind."
- A reversal in conceptualizing which object is "in front" led to a corresponding reversal in valence.
- Linguistic preferences for specific frames of reference appear to influence evaluative judgments.
Conclusions:
- Spatial conceptualizations, influenced by linguistic frame of reference preferences, significantly impact object evaluations.
- The study demonstrates a link between language, spatial cognition, and affective responses.
- Findings suggest that the way we talk about space shapes how we feel about it.
Keywords:
Cross-linguistic comparisonFrame of referenceImplicit association testSpatial cognitionValenceMore Related Videos
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