Approach motivation and cognitive resources combine to influence memory for positive emotional stimuli. Academic Article

abstract

• Inspired by the elaborated intrusion theory of desire, the current research tested the hypothesis that persons higher in trait approach motivation process positive stimuli deeply, which enhances memory for them. Ninety-four undergraduates completed a measure of trait approach motivation, viewed positive or negative image slideshows in the presence or absence of a cognitive load, and one week later completed an image memory test. Higher trait approach motivation predicted better memory for the positive slideshow, but this memory boost disappeared under cognitive load. Approach motivation did not influence memory for the negative slideshow. The current findings support the idea that individuals higher in approach motivation spontaneously devote limited resources to processing positive stimuli.

authors

• Schmeichel, Brandon

published proceedings

• Cogn Emot

altmetric score

• 1.5

author list (cited authors)

• Crowell, A., & Schmeichel, B. J.

citation count

• 7

complete list of authors

• Crowell, Adrienne||Schmeichel, Brandon J

publication date

• January 2016

publisher

• Taylor & Francis  Publisher

published in

• Cognition and Emotion  Journal

keywords

• Approach Motivation
• Cognition
• Cognitive Load
• Emotional Memory
• Emotions
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Memory
• Motivation
• Photic Stimulation

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1080/02699931.2014.1000829

start page

• 389

end page

• 397

volume

• 30

issue

• 2

URL

• http%3A%2F%2Fdx.doi.org%2F10.1080%2F02699931.2014.1000829