Emotional Determinants of Categorical Accentuation

Abstract

The present study aimed to provide preliminary evidence for the role of uncertainty related emotions in categorical accentuation. Participants had to estimate the length of lines varying in length, which depending on the conditions were or were not associated with categorical labels. To explore the emotional determinants of categorical accentuation we included additional label condition, in which participants were induced to feel fear (i.e. the emotion theoretically defined by the appraisal of low certainty). Consistent with the past research the results revealed a classic accentuation effect with participants in label condition showing higher differentiation at category boundaries compared to those in no label condition. More importantly, this effect was strengthened in the condition in which participants were induced with fear suggesting that uncertainty-related emotions could play an important role in the accentuation phenomenon.