Threat and attention: Effects of other-directed punishments on automatic attentional performance

Previous studies have demonstrated that the speed and accuracy of visual spatial attention can be enhanced when one’s performance is incentivized with punishments or rewards toward oneself. The primary objective of the present study was to determine whether this motivational effect on exogenous attentional performance is extended to situations where others’ physical integrity is at risk. Second, we aimed to determine whether one’s sensitivity to punishments, as measured by the Behavioral Inhibition Scale (BIS), has an enhancing effect on attentional performance in threatening conditions. To probe these questions, we set up a dyad experiment, in which one participant completed an exogenous spatial cueing task. During the task, we manipulated participant motivation by the threat of electric shocks directed either toward the task performer, their co-participant, or neither. The shock delivery was based on the performer’s task performance. Our results showed no differences in...Show morePrevious studies have demonstrated that the speed and accuracy of visual spatial attention can be enhanced when one’s performance is incentivized with punishments or rewards toward oneself. The primary objective of the present study was to determine whether this motivational effect on exogenous attentional performance is extended to situations where others’ physical integrity is at risk. Second, we aimed to determine whether one’s sensitivity to punishments, as measured by the Behavioral Inhibition Scale (BIS), has an enhancing effect on attentional performance in threatening conditions. To probe these questions, we set up a dyad experiment, in which one participant completed an exogenous spatial cueing task. During the task, we manipulated participant motivation by the threat of electric shocks directed either toward the task performer, their co-participant, or neither. The shock delivery was based on the performer’s task performance. Our results showed no differences in performance between the three conditions. This contradicted our hypotheses and suggests that other-directed or self-directed threat does not lead to increased automatic attentional performance. Regarding BIS, we found that high-BIS individuals, relative to low-BIS individuals, have increased attentional reaction times during other-directed threat, but not during self-directed threat. This finding also contradicted our hypothesis. Therefore, we suggest that high sensitivity to punishments may lead to poorer attentional performance when others are at risk.Show less

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Threat and attention: Effects of other-directed punishments on automatic attentional performance