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BLAIN CHAPTER V Signed.pdf (1.35 MB)

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The Role of Attentional Bias Modification in a Positive Psychology Exercise

Blain, Rachel Catherine
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1556749693757742

Abstract Details

2019, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Engagement in the three good things positive psychology exercise is associated with improvements in mental health (e.g., Seligman, Steen, Park, & Peterson, 2005), yet the mechanism of change in this exercise has yet to be investigated (Quoidbach, Mikolajczak, & Gross, 2015). Researchers have hypothesized that the exercise is beneficial because it trains attention toward positive information in life (Peters, Vieler, & Lautenbacher, 2016; Watkins & McCurrach, 2016). The present study investigated this hypothesis in a sample of undergraduate students (N = 78) using data from an emotional Stroop task before (Time 1) and after completing the three good things exercise for one week (Time 2). Participants also completed measures of depression, positive and negative affect, life satisfaction, and happiness at Time 1, Time 2, and at 1-month follow-up (Time 3). It was hypothesized that individuals would have a greater positive attentional bias (mean reaction time [RT] to positive words minus mean RT to neutral words) at Time 2 than Time 1, and the positive attentional bias at Time 2 would significantly predict outcome variables. Results indicate that happiness and life satisfaction significantly increased from Time 1 to Time 2 but were not significantly different from Time 2 to Time 3. There were no significant differences across time for depression or positive or negative affect. In addition, there were no significant differences in positive attentional bias from Time 1 to Time 2. Positive attentional bias at Time 2 did not significantly predict any of the outcome variables. Exploratory analyses revealed that mean RT to positive words significantly decreased across time and predicted outcome variables at Time 3. This finding may be interpreted in terms of the broaden and build theory of positive emotions (Frederickson, 1998, 2001) and suggests a need to reevaluate and clarify the effects of the three good things exercise and positive emotions on attention.
Jennifer Gibson (Advisor)
Cynthia Dulaney (Committee Member)
Nicholas Salsman (Committee Member)
71 p.
Psychology
positive psychology; three good things; attention; attentional bias; attentional bias modification; positive attentional bias; emotional Stroop; Stroop effect; Stroop criticism; positive emotions; broaden and build theory

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Blain, R. C. (2019). The Role of Attentional Bias Modification in a Positive Psychology Exercise [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1556749693757742

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Blain, Rachel. The Role of Attentional Bias Modification in a Positive Psychology Exercise. 2019. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1556749693757742.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Blain, Rachel. "The Role of Attentional Bias Modification in a Positive Psychology Exercise." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2019. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1556749693757742

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1556749693757742
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This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Psychology and OhioLINK.