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Attentional consequences of outcome-related motivational states: Congruent, incongruent, and focusing effects

Motivation and Emotion volume 17, pages 65–89 (1993)Cite this article

Abstract

Two experiments employed a game context to examine the effects of positive and negative feedback on the processing of targets varying in incentive properties. While half the targets carried no value, the others were assigned either a positive incentive value (where points could be gained) or a negative value (where points could be lost), and either a large incentive size (worth 5 points) or a small size (worth 2 points). Feedback from the previous trial was found to exert three effects on subsequent targets. A congruent effect appeared in the faster processing of large targets that matched the positive or negative valence of the previous feedback signal. An incongruent effect was evident in the delays in shifting attention from pretarget cues that contrasted in valence to the previous feedback. A focusing effect was reflected in the general delays following negative feedback in responding to targets with no value. In addition to these outcome influences, processing was generally more efficient for targets carrying positive than negative incentive value, and for targets of large than small size. These findings are discussed in terms of contemporary models of motivation and information processing.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oregon State University, 97331, Corvallis, Oregon

    Douglas Derryberry

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  1. Douglas Derryberry
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Derryberry, D. Attentional consequences of outcome-related motivational states: Congruent, incongruent, and focusing effects. Motiv Emot 17, 65–89 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995186

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00995186

Keywords

  • Negative Feedback
  • General Delay
  • Congruent Effect
  • Motivational State
  • Feedback Signal