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Relative Effectiveness of Emotion Induction Procedures and the Role of Personal Relevance in a Clinical Sample: A Comparison of Film, Images, and Music

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Abstract

Qualitative differences between three types of media used for the laboratory induction of emotion (film clips, still images, and music) were explored using a clinical sample. The relative effectiveness at inducing negative emotion and the degree to which the induction elicited personally relevant experiences of emotion was examined. Nomothetic and idiographic media were included as stimuli, and comparisons were made across media types and selection type. Nomothetic and idiographic media did not significantly differ in levels of negative affect endorsed. Significant differences did emerge between media and selection types in degree of personal relevance, with nomothetic images rated lowest and idiographic music rated highest. Significant differences also emerged in ratings of positive affect, with greater personal relevance significantly related to greater positive affect. The qualitative differences in emotion induction procedures found in this study are discussed in relation to the potential importance of matching emotion induction procedures to specific emotion-related processes of interest when used for the laboratory study of emotion and psychopathology.

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Acknowledgements

Kristen K. Ellard, M.A. is supported by NIMH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) grant 1F31MH084422. David H. Barlow, Ph.D. and Todd J. Farchione, Ph.D. are supported by NIMH grant 1RO1MH090053.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University, 648 Beacon Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215-2002, USA

    Kristen K. Ellard, Todd J. Farchione & David H. Barlow

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  1. Kristen K. Ellard
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  2. Todd J. Farchione
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  3. David H. Barlow
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Correspondence to Kristen K. Ellard.

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Kristen K. Ellard, M.A. is an advanced doctoral student at Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, specializing in adult anxiety and mood disorders. She is most recently co-author of a transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral treatment for emotional disorders with Drs. Barlow and Farchione. Todd Farchione, Ph.D. is Research Assistant Professor of Psychology at Boston University. His research focuses on the development of treatments for emotional disorders. David H. Barlow, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Boston University and Founder of the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders. He has published over 500 articles and over 60 books on the nature and treatment of emotional disorders.

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Ellard, K.K., Farchione, T.J. & Barlow, D.H. Relative Effectiveness of Emotion Induction Procedures and the Role of Personal Relevance in a Clinical Sample: A Comparison of Film, Images, and Music. J Psychopathol Behav Assess 34, 232–243 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-011-9271-4

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