Can implicit appraisal concepts produce emotion-specific effects? A focus on unfairness and anger.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Randomized experimental study in human participants (level assigned by design analogy for experimental psychology)
PubMed 23474701 · doi:10.1016/j.concog.2013.02.003
What was done
Investigators evaluated whether non-conscious, subliminal activation of an implicit appraisal concept (unfairness) selectively alters emotional responses associated with anger. The study measured implicit outcomes (anger-related facial expressions and response latency to anger words) alongside explicit self-reported emotional feelings, comparing anger to sadness, fear, and guilt.
What was found
Subliminal activation of implicit unfairness affected implicit anger responses (facial expressions and response latencies to anger words) but did not affect explicit reported feelings of anger. The effect was specific to anger, with no effects detected for sadness, fear, or guilt. The abstract does not report numerical data or statistical values.
Why it matters
This study provides experimental evidence supporting appraisal theories, showing that unconscious appraisal concepts can selectively activate discrete implicit emotional processes independently of conscious feeling states.
Limits
The abstract omits sample size, participant demographics, quantitative effect sizes, and test statistics. Generalizability outside brief laboratory priming paradigms is unmeasured.
Cited by
- supports The psychological appraisal and definition underlying the emotion of anger is perceived injustice.