Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 8, 2025
13:00
Measuring Attention and Visual Processing Speed by Model-based Analysis of Temporal-order Judgments
Published on: January 23, 2017
10.2K
A purely power-space association without spatial and strategic biases
1Key Laboratory of Basic Psychological and Cognitive Neuroscience, School of Psychology, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, PR China.
Consciousness and Cognition
|September 17, 2020
Summary
Power is automatically linked to spatial representations, even without spatial cues. This study reveals the nonconscious spatial nature of power, demonstrating its automatic activation.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Previous research suggests a metaphorical link between power and spatial concepts (e.g., powerful = up, powerless = down).
- This association may be influenced by spatial and strategic biases inherent in experimental designs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether power concepts automatically activate spatial representations.
- To determine if the power-space association persists when spatial and strategic biases are eliminated.
Main Methods:
- Experiment 1 used a non-spatialized design, presenting power words and spatial labels (HIGH/LOW) or arrows centrally.
- Participants completed classification and Go/no-go tasks with varied response rules.
- Experiment 2 employed an implicit power judgment task within a similar non-spatialized framework.
Main Results:
- The power-space association effect was observed even after removing spatial and strategic biases.
- This indicates a robust, automatic link between concepts of power and spatial representations.
Conclusions:
- The findings provide the first evidence for a nonconscious spatial nature of power.
- Power concepts automatically activate spatial representations, independent of explicit spatial cues or response strategies.
Related Concept Videos
01:19The Power Superposition Principle
302
Consider a circuit with two sinusoidal voltage sources. Each one influences the circuit independently, and the superposition principle helps us understand the combined effect by adding up the responses from each source.
302
01:29Self-Serving Bias
109
Self-serving bias is a cognitive phenomenon in which individuals attribute positive outcomes to internal factors such as their abilities, intelligence, or effort while attributing negative outcomes to external circumstances. This cognitive distortion helps maintain self-esteem but can also impede objective self-assessment.Theoretical Explanations of Self-Serving BiasTwo primary theories explain the self-serving bias: the cognitive explanation and the motivational explanation.The cognitive...
109
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
8.1K
Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
8.1K
02:12Relationship Formation
45.1K
What do you think is the single most influential factor in determining with whom you become friends and whom you form romantic relationships? You might be surprised to learn that the answer is simple: the people with whom you have the most contact. This most important factor is proximity. You are more likely to be friends with people you have regular contact with. For example, there are decades of research that shows that you are more likely to become friends with people who live in your dorm,...
45.1K
02:13The Representativeness Heuristic
16.6K
The representative heuristic describes a biased way of thinking, in which you unintentionally stereotype someone or something. For example, you may assume that your professors spend their free time reading books and engaging in intellectual conversation, because the idea of them spending their time playing volleyball or visiting an amusement park does not fit in with your stereotypes of professors.
16.6K
01:25Space Trusses
1.2K
A space truss is a three-dimensional counterpart of a planar truss. These structures consist of members connected at their ends, often utilizing ball-and-socket joints to create a stable and versatile framework. The space truss is widely used in various construction projects due to its adaptability and capacity to withstand complex loads.
At the core of a space truss lies the fundamental unit known as the tetrahedron. This structure is composed of six members that form a three-dimensional shape...
At the core of a space truss lies the fundamental unit known as the tetrahedron. This structure is composed of six members that form a three-dimensional shape...
1.2K