title: Valence, arousal and word associations.
abstract: This study aimed at testing the relative effects of valence and arousal on the generation of unusual first associates in response to non-emotional inducers. To examine this question, four specific moods varying along both the valence and the arousal dimensions were induced: happiness (positive mood, high arousal), serenity (positive mood, low arousal), anger (negative mood, high arousal) and sadness (negative mood, low arousal). The results indicate that the uniqueness of word-associations is influenced by arousal levels rather than by the valence of mood. No matter what the valence, high-arousing moods enhanced the production of unusual associates in contrast to low-arousing moods.
authors.affiliation: University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Anne-Laure.Gilet@unige.ch
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Gilet
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jallais
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000786:Anger; D001143:Arousal; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012660:Semantics; D014706:Verbal Learning; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult