Cognitive psycholog
Samila Arzeroomchilar; Zohreh Rafezi
Abstract
Introduction: The aim of the current research is to answer the question whether functions related to emotion such as risky decision-making and theory of mind change in all people under the influence of sadness and happiness induction, or according to different levels of emotional processing. People react ...
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Introduction: The aim of the current research is to answer the question whether functions related to emotion such as risky decision-making and theory of mind change in all people under the influence of sadness and happiness induction, or according to different levels of emotional processing. People react differently after experiencing these emotions. Method: In order to investigate this question, 60 volunteers, in the age range of 18-40 years old, were included using available sampling method. After evaluating the mood with the Beck Depression Questionnaire and measuring emotional processing by the Baker scale, they were randomly placed in one of the groups of induction of happiness, induction of sadness and control. In order to induce emotional states, the methods of playing short films and mental imagery were used. Then the Iowa software test and the eye reading mind test were performed. Findings: The results obtained using univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that in this research, the induction of none of the emotions of happiness and sadness had no significant effect on the amount of theory of mind and risky decision making of participants with different levels of emotional processing. Conclusion: From these findings, it can be concluded that being exposed to emotions of happiness and sadness with moderate to relatively high intensity in the short term (less than an hour), cannot significantly alter the level of functions of theory of mind and risky decision making in the direction of improvement or dysfunction in individuals with different emotional processing levels.
Marzieh Mortezazadeh; Zohreh Rafezi; Hossein Eskandari
Abstract
Objective: Cognitive flexibility is one of the basic components of executive functions that not only improves the quality of social relations and adaptation of individuals but also affects the quality of social relations (rejection, acceptance). However, how the quality of social relations affect Cognitive ...
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Objective: Cognitive flexibility is one of the basic components of executive functions that not only improves the quality of social relations and adaptation of individuals but also affects the quality of social relations (rejection, acceptance). However, how the quality of social relations affect Cognitive flexibility is not clear, therefor the present study was conducted to compare the effect of social exclusion with social acceptance on cognitive flexibility. Method: The method of this research was quasi-experimental with pre-test and post-test with control group. The statistical population of this study was all adults with a mean age of 25.74 and undergraduate education, from which 60 people who met the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into three groups of social acceptance, social exclusion and control. First, the subjects answered the Wisconsin test (Shahgholian et al., 2011); Then, by playing the virtual ball tossing game (Williams, Chang, Choi, 2000), social exclusion and social acceptance were induced in the two experimental groups. Then, to evaluate the effect of experimental induction, the experimental groups answered the basic needs threat scale of Williams (2001) and the positive and negative Affect scale of Watson, Clark and Tellegen (1988). Finally, the Wisconsin test was performed again in three groups. Research data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, multivariate analysis of covariance and Bonferroni post hoc test. Results: Findings of this study showed that social exclusion reduces cognitive flexibility in individuals (P = 0.01) and social acceptance enhances cognitive flexibility (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Considering the negative effect of social exclusion on cognitive flexibility and the importance of this component in high-level cognitive functions, it is necessary to pay attention to improving the quality of individuals' social relations in order to promote cognitive flexibility.