Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.

In this pre-registered study, we ask how people's emotional responses under threat may be causally affected by what is available to them in the environment, i.e. environmental affordances. For this purpose, we introduce a novel behavioral paradigm using horror movie stimuli to simulate threats....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Song Qi, Dylan M Nielson, Daniele Marcotulli, Daniel S Pine, Argyris Stringaris
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2024-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310359
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850134794604642304
author Song Qi
Dylan M Nielson
Daniele Marcotulli
Daniel S Pine
Argyris Stringaris
author_facet Song Qi
Dylan M Nielson
Daniele Marcotulli
Daniel S Pine
Argyris Stringaris
author_sort Song Qi
collection DOAJ
description In this pre-registered study, we ask how people's emotional responses under threat may be causally affected by what is available to them in the environment, i.e. environmental affordances. For this purpose, we introduce a novel behavioral paradigm using horror movie stimuli to simulate threats. The study illustrates that affordances, specifically items present in the environment, are instrumental in modulating both behavioral choices (approach or avoidance) and emotional expressions of anger and fear. We found that, approach-related resources, such as possession of a weapon, heightened anger and the propensity to confront the threat. This underscores the influence of environmental affordances on emotional regulation and supports a theoretical framework that connects instrumental motives with the variability of emotional and behavioral responses based on affordances. The research, while innovative, recognizes the constraints of simulated threats and controlled settings, suggesting avenues for future exploration in more naturalistic environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-dd56ccd2e97442568a1724eb9e030ae0
institution OA Journals
issn 1932-6203
language English
publishDate 2024-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj-art-dd56ccd2e97442568a1724eb9e030ae02025-08-20T02:31:38ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032024-01-011912e031035910.1371/journal.pone.0310359Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.Song QiDylan M NielsonDaniele MarcotulliDaniel S PineArgyris StringarisIn this pre-registered study, we ask how people's emotional responses under threat may be causally affected by what is available to them in the environment, i.e. environmental affordances. For this purpose, we introduce a novel behavioral paradigm using horror movie stimuli to simulate threats. The study illustrates that affordances, specifically items present in the environment, are instrumental in modulating both behavioral choices (approach or avoidance) and emotional expressions of anger and fear. We found that, approach-related resources, such as possession of a weapon, heightened anger and the propensity to confront the threat. This underscores the influence of environmental affordances on emotional regulation and supports a theoretical framework that connects instrumental motives with the variability of emotional and behavioral responses based on affordances. The research, while innovative, recognizes the constraints of simulated threats and controlled settings, suggesting avenues for future exploration in more naturalistic environments.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310359
spellingShingle Song Qi
Dylan M Nielson
Daniele Marcotulli
Daniel S Pine
Argyris Stringaris
Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
PLoS ONE
title Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
title_full Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
title_fullStr Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
title_full_unstemmed Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
title_short Subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances.
title_sort subjective affective experience under threat is shaped by environmental affordances
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0310359
work_keys_str_mv AT songqi subjectiveaffectiveexperienceunderthreatisshapedbyenvironmentalaffordances
AT dylanmnielson subjectiveaffectiveexperienceunderthreatisshapedbyenvironmentalaffordances
AT danielemarcotulli subjectiveaffectiveexperienceunderthreatisshapedbyenvironmentalaffordances
AT danielspine subjectiveaffectiveexperienceunderthreatisshapedbyenvironmentalaffordances
AT argyrisstringaris subjectiveaffectiveexperienceunderthreatisshapedbyenvironmentalaffordances