Antonio Olivera La Rosa | Universitat de les Illes Balears (original) (raw)

Papers by Antonio Olivera La Rosa

Heliyon, 2019

With an estimated 50 million or more users worldwide, Tinder has become one of the most popular m... more With an estimated 50 million or more users worldwide, Tinder has become one of the most popular mobile dating applications. Although judgments of physical attractiveness are assumed to drive the "swiping" decisions that lead to matches, we propose that there is an additional evaluative dimension driving behind these decisions: judgments of moral character. With the aim of adding empirical support for this proposition, we critically review the most striking findings about first impressions extracted from faces, moral character in person perception, creepiness, and the uncanny valley, as they apply to Tinder behavior. Drawing on this research and the evolutionary theory of biological markets, we formulate several hypotheses that offer directions for future studies of Tinder and other dating apps. We conclude that research on face perception of novel targets supports the plausibility of moral character as a potential factor affecting the swiping decisions and subsequent behavior of Tinder users.

Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis, 2019

Contradictory findings with regard to the nonlinear relation between human likeness and affective... more Contradictory findings with regard to the nonlinear relation between human likeness and affective reactions have characterized psychological research on the uncanny valley hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005). In the present study we explored the phenomenology of the uncanny feeling (UF) by assessing implicit associations between uncanny stimuli (by android faces) and two emotional responses previously associated with the uncanny: fear and disgust. Further, we tested whether perception of uncanny stimuli would facilitate cognitions of deviant ("sick") morality and mental illness, as suggested by previous literature. Across five Single-Target Implicit Association Tests we found support only for a slight association of the UF with moral disgust (relative to fear). We found no evidence of an implicit link between the UF and fear or general disgust, nor did the UF implicitly facilitate cognitions of psychopathy.

Despite growing research on online social networking, implicit associations of Facebook users hav... more Despite growing research on online social networking, implicit associations of Facebook users have been largely understudied. In Study 1, we used the Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT; Karpinski and Steinman, 2006) in order to assess implicit associations between Facebook and two evolutionary relevant constructs: sexual and prosocial behavior. Additionally, we controlled for the role of participant's relationship status as a potential moderator of Facebook implicit associations. In Study 2, we extended these findings and explored the relationship between implicit and explicit associations towards Facebook. Across two studies, we found that Facebook is more strongly associated with prosocial than with sexual behavior. This effect was not sensitive to sex differences. Further, Study 2 results revealed that implicit and (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). explicit associations did not correlate. We discuss the implications of these findings, underlining the role of implicit measures in cyberpsychology research.

New Ideas in Psychology, 2018

The “uncanny valley” hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005) states that a near-human looking entity can enge... more The “uncanny valley” hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005) states that a near-human looking entity can engender negative feelings in an observer. I analyze the phenomenology of the uncanny feeling, which is largely understudied despite being the dependent variable in empirical studies. Next, I introduce a social functionalist account to the uncanny valley research. I propose that the uncanny feeling is a social response triggered by the perception that something is ambiguously wrong with the “humanness” of the human-like stimuli, and therefore needs to be avoided. By doing so, the uncanny feeling functions as a “wrong outside, wrong inside” heuristic with central moral connotations. I conclude that rethinking the uncanny feeling as a social response helps to integrate controversial findings within the field.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2017

Few studies have addressed attitudes toward violence in offender populations using implicit measu... more Few studies have addressed attitudes toward violence in offender populations using implicit measures. The aim of this study is to test whether implicit attitudes toward two types of violence (physical and relational) differ between two groups of adolescent offenders: one group with conduct disorder (CD; n = 36) and the other group without this condition (No-CD; n = 26). We found that adolescent offenders with CD evidenced less negative implicit attitudes toward physical violence than the No-CD group. No differences between groups were observed in the case of relational violence. Our results suggest that CD modulates implicit attitudes toward violence in adolescent offenders and that the influence of CD is stronger in the case of physical rather than relational acts of violence.

Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 2017

Objective: Most studies on conduct disorder (CD) have focused on male adolescents, disregarding a... more Objective: Most studies on conduct disorder (CD) have focused on male adolescents, disregarding analysis of this psychopathology in women. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in empathy and theory of mind (ToM) in a group of adolescent women with CD and a control group. Method: Thirty-six adolescent women were selected from an initial sample of 239 adolescents (CD group = 18, control group = 18). Empathy and ToM were evaluated through objective instruments. Mean comparisons and multivariate analysis were performed to ascertain differences between cases and controls and to propose a prediction model based on clinical status. Results: Significant differences in empathic abilities and ToM were found between the groups. The model that differentiated both groups was composed of eye-reading ability, perspective taking, and personal distress. Conclusion: These findings are consistent with previous studies. Capacity to take the other's perspective and the recognition of emotions in the face are protective factors against CD in women.

Papeles del Psicólogo, 2017

The automatic nature of evaluative judgments and, in particular, the role of implicit processes i... more The automatic nature of evaluative judgments and, in particular, the role of implicit processes in this type of response is a central theme in cognitive psychology. The purpose of the present review is to explore the implications of the automaticity concept in social cognition, with a special emphasis on two well-documented phenomena: affective misattribution and embodiment. With this aim, we review the most relevant findings in this area, and we propose potential lines of application outside the laboratory. We conclude that affective misattribution is opera-tive in several domains of social cognition, which suggests that our daily life can benefit substantially from a better understanding of how our implicit mind works.

Escritos de Psicología, 2016

Uno de los principales debates dentro del estudio de la psicología de la emoción concierne a la c... more Uno de los principales debates dentro del estudio de la psicología de la emoción concierne a la concepción de las emociones como constructos psicológicos unificados (categoriales/discretos) en contraposición con el enfoque dimensional del episodio emocional. En este marco, el modelo dimensional de Russell (2003) destaca en el panorama académico al constituir una propuesta integradora que da cuenta de una serie de problemas históricos del ámbito de estudio. Con este fin, se realiza una aproximación analítica a dicho modelo y se argumenta su viabilidad. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo revisar la evidencia empírica a favor de cuatro hipótesis que sostiene el modelo dimensional de Russell: (1) Existe una primacía temporal de los afectos básicos frente a los componentes más cognitivos en el desarrollo de la emoción, (2) los cambios afectivos percibidos facilitan la accesibilidad del material hedónicamente congruente, (3) la mente humana puede atribuir erróneamente la experimentación de un determinado core affect al estímulo incorrecto, y (4) la experimentación de los componentes dimensionales facilita la ocurrencia de respuestas cognitivas congruentes. Se concluye que la combinación de componentes dimensionales inespecíficos, tanto de tipo puramente afectivo como de carácter más " cognitivo " constituyen ocasionalmente los prototipos emocionales. En consecuencia, se propone que el modelo dimensional de Russell (2003) constituye una alternativa integradora de gran potencial para abordar el estudio de la naturaleza de la emoción. Palabras Clave: Emoción; Cognición; Core Affect; Modelo Dimensional. One of the main debates in the study of the psychology of emotion concerns the conception of emotions as unified psychological constructs (categorical/discrete) versus the dimensional approach to emotional episodes. In this context , the dimensional model of Russell (2003) stands out as an inclusive framework that takes into account a set of historical problems in this field of study. We analysed the model, discussed its viability, and reviewed the empirical evidence in favour of four hypotheses that underlie Russell's dimensional model: (1) There is a temporary primacy of basic affects versus more cognitive components in the development of an emotion; (2) perceived affective changes facilitate access to hedonically congruent material; (3) the human mind can mistakenly attribute the experience of a specific core affect to the incorrect stimulus; and (4) the experience of the dimensional components facilitates the occurrence of congruent cognitive responses. The combination of nonspecific dimensional components, both purely affective as well as those with more "cognitive" characteristics, can act as prototypical emotions. We conclude that Russell's dimensional model is an integrated alternative to other models with great potential for studying the nature of emotion.

PLOS ONE, 2016

Previous research has identified a set of core factors that influence moral judgments. The presen... more Previous research has identified a set of core factors that influence moral judgments. The present study addresses the interplay between moral judgments and four factors: (a) incidental affects, (b) sociocultural context, (c) type of dilemma, and (d) participant's sex. We asked participants in two different countries (Colombia and Spain) to judge the acceptability of actions in response to personal and impersonal moral dilemmas. Before each dilemma an affective prime (erotic, pleasant or neutral pictures) was presented suboptimally. Our results show that: a) relative to neutral priming, erotic primes increase the acceptance of harm for a greater good (i.e., more utilitarian judgments), b) relative to Colombians, Spanish participants rated causing harm as less acceptable, c) relative to impersonal dilemmas, personal dilemmas reduced the acceptance of harm, and d) relative to men, women were less likely to consider harm acceptable. Our results are congruent with findings showing that sex is a crucial factor in moral cognition, and they extend previous research by showing the interaction between culture and incidental factors in the making of moral judgments.

The research from cognitive psychology has found a promising path of application in the field of ... more The research from cognitive psychology has found a promising path of application in the field of branding and consumer
behaviour. In this paper, we review the most striking findings in implicit cognition that are relevant to the research on
evaluations and decision making. In doing this, we expect to clarify the possible scope of cognitive psychology as a potential
tool for research in consumer psychology. In particular, we discuss the possible implications of this line of research for the
developing of two specific areas: subliminal advertising and implicit measures of brand perception.

Pensando Psicología

Diversos estudios realizados durante la última década sugieren que nuestra cognición moral está a... more Diversos estudios realizados durante la última década sugieren que nuestra cognición moral está ampliamente sustentada en procesos psicológicos automáticos. En este contexto, la correspondencia psicológica existente entre ciertos estados corporales y ciertos procesos cognitivos (embodiment) ha sido ampliamente documentada en los estudios relacionados a la moralidad. Por consiguiente, la presente revisión tiene como objetivo esclarecer la naturaleza del componente corpóreo de la cognición moral, con especial énfasis en la relación interdependiente entre la emoción de repugnancia, la sensación de limpieza física y los juicios morales. Se concluye que si bien la automaticidad de nuestra cognición moral parece facilitar la ocurrencia del embodiment, la evidencia sugiere que la naturaleza de las metáforas corpóreas implicadas en la vida moral es variable.

Papeles del Psicólogo

Las herramientas provenientes de la psicología cognitiva han encontrado una vía de aplicación pro... more Las herramientas provenientes de la psicología cognitiva han encontrado una vía de aplicación prometedora en el ámbito del branding y el comportamiento del consumidor. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo establecer sus posibles alcances. Con este fin, se realiza una revisión de los hallazgos más relevantes en cognición implícita relacionados a los procesos de evaluación y toma de decisiones. Asimismo, se discuten las posibles implicaciones de estos estudios para la investigación en publicidad subliminal y medidas implícitas de percepción de marca.

PLOS ONE

We examined the influence of affective priming on the appreciation of abstract artworks using an ... more We examined the influence of affective priming on the appreciation of abstract artworks using an evaluative priming task. Facial primes (showing happiness, disgust or no emotion) were presented under short (Stimulus Onset Asynchrony, SOA = 20ms) and extended (SOA = 300ms) conditions. Differences in aesthetic liking for abstract paintings depending on the emotion expressed in the preceding primes provided a measure of the priming effect. The results showed that, for the extended SOA, artworks were liked more when preceded by happiness primes and less when preceded by disgust primes. Facial expressions of happiness, though not of disgust, exerted similar effects in the short SOA condition.
Subjective measures and a forced-choice task revealed no evidence of prime awareness in the suboptimal condition. Our results are congruent with findings showing that the affective transfer elicited by priming biases evaluative judgments, extending previous research to the domain of aesthetic appreciation.

Anales de Psicología

The need for multidisciplinary approaches to the scientific study of human nature is a widely sup... more The need for multidisciplinary approaches to the scientific study of human nature is a widely supported academic claim. This assumption has proved to be especially successful in the field of moral psychology. Although studies of moral topics have been ubiquitous in both humanities and social sciences, it is not until the integration of different scientific disciplines in the convergent science of moral psychology that the study of morality seems to start its flourishing age. Thus, in the last ten years, a growing body of research from cognitive sciences, experimental philosophy, primatology, clinical and developmental psychology, economy and anthropology have made possible a “new era” on the study of morality. In this paper, we review the most striking findings that constitute the “state of the art” of moral psychology, with the aim to facilitate a better understanding of how the mind functions in the moral domain.

Psicothema , Apr 2013

Background. Disgust is, at its core, an emotion that responds to cues of parasites and infection,... more Background. Disgust is, at its core, an emotion that responds to cues of parasites and infection, likely to be evolved to protect human organism to the risk of disease. Interestingly, a growing body of research implicates disgust as an emotion central to human morality. The fact that disgust is associated with appraisals of moral transgressions and that this emotion influences moral judgments supposes a remarkable puzzle: Why an emotion that originally functions in the domain of infectious entities does become such a good candidate to play the role of a moral arbiter? The aim of the present review is to clarify the nature of the relationship between disgust and morality. Method. First, we examine the relevant features of disgust in order to explore whether disgust’s phenomenology favors its implementation as a defensive mechanism against offensive social entities. Second, we critically review the most striking findings about the effects of disgust on moral judgments. Results. The revisited analysis of the literature strongly suggests a bidirectional causal link between disgust and moral cognition. Conclusions. We propose that the particular phenomenology of disgust (which involves a sense of offensiveness and rejection) favored the co-adaptation of this emotion to the moral domain.

Todos los derechos reservados. De conformidad con lo dispuesto en la legislación vigente, podrán ... more Todos los derechos reservados. De conformidad con lo dispuesto en la legislación vigente, podrán ser castigados con penas de multa y privación de libertad quienes reproduzcan o plagien, en todo o en parte, una obra literaria, artística o científica, fijada en cualquier tipo y soporte, sin la preceptiva autorización

Previous studies have shown that disgust can shape moral judgments. However, the specificity of t... more Previous studies have shown that disgust can shape moral judgments. However, the specificity of this causal relationship remains unclear. The current investigation starts from an affective-dimensional point of view that could contribute to clarify this intriguing question. From this conceptual approach, we test how different affective primes (disgust and horror pictures), previously matched in valence and arousal, modify participant’s moral judgments. We predict the suboptimal affective priming effects are specific to moral judgments, therefore not influencing non-moral’s. METHOD. 78 participants (21 men; age M.= 20,51) were recruited from undergraduate students at the UIB and randomly assigned either to a disgust-prime or to a horror-prime group. They were asked to rate through a 7-point Likert Scale (7: very appropriate, 1: very inappropriate) two equivalent versions of each dilemma (15 moral pairs and 12 non-moral’s) after being presented with affective (disgust or horror) and neutral primes (SOA=20ms). Dilemmas were displayed in vignettes, also used as backward masks. RESULTS. Appropriateness scores for moral judgements were higher after disgust and horror primes than after neutral primes (p<0.001 for both comparisons). Interestingly, this was not the case for non-moral dilemmas (p<0.574 for disgust-neutral; p<0.819 for horror-neutral comparison). CONCLUSIONS. Suboptimal affective priming by disgust and fear pictures significantly reduces the severity of moral judgments, but have no effect on non-moral judgments. These findings suggest the effects of negative primes in moral judgments may be caused by a basic affective processing —quicker, implicit and probably unappraised— involved in the emotional experience of both disgust and horror.

Comptes rendus biologies (impact factor: 1.71). 02/2010; 333(2):174-80. DOI:10.1016/j.crvi.2009.12.005

Darwin admitted that the evolution of moral phenomena such as altruism and fairness, which are us... more Darwin admitted that the evolution of moral phenomena such as altruism and fairness, which are usually in opposition to the maximization of individual reproductive success, was not easily accounted for by natural selection. Later, authors have proposed additional mechanisms, including kin selection, inclusive fitness, and reciprocal altruism. In the present work, we explore the extent to which sexual selection has played a role in the appearance of human moral traits. It has been suggested that because certain moral virtues, including altruism and kindness, are sexually attractive, their evolution could have been shaped by the process of sexual selection. Our review suggests that although it is possible that sexual selection played such a role, it is difficult to determine the extent of its relevance, the specific form of this influence, and its interplay with other evolutionary mechanisms.

Talks by Antonio Olivera La Rosa

Heliyon, 2019

With an estimated 50 million or more users worldwide, Tinder has become one of the most popular m... more With an estimated 50 million or more users worldwide, Tinder has become one of the most popular mobile dating applications. Although judgments of physical attractiveness are assumed to drive the "swiping" decisions that lead to matches, we propose that there is an additional evaluative dimension driving behind these decisions: judgments of moral character. With the aim of adding empirical support for this proposition, we critically review the most striking findings about first impressions extracted from faces, moral character in person perception, creepiness, and the uncanny valley, as they apply to Tinder behavior. Drawing on this research and the evolutionary theory of biological markets, we formulate several hypotheses that offer directions for future studies of Tinder and other dating apps. We conclude that research on face perception of novel targets supports the plausibility of moral character as a potential factor affecting the swiping decisions and subsequent behavior of Tinder users.

Journal of Articles in Support of the Null Hypothesis, 2019

Contradictory findings with regard to the nonlinear relation between human likeness and affective... more Contradictory findings with regard to the nonlinear relation between human likeness and affective reactions have characterized psychological research on the uncanny valley hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005). In the present study we explored the phenomenology of the uncanny feeling (UF) by assessing implicit associations between uncanny stimuli (by android faces) and two emotional responses previously associated with the uncanny: fear and disgust. Further, we tested whether perception of uncanny stimuli would facilitate cognitions of deviant ("sick") morality and mental illness, as suggested by previous literature. Across five Single-Target Implicit Association Tests we found support only for a slight association of the UF with moral disgust (relative to fear). We found no evidence of an implicit link between the UF and fear or general disgust, nor did the UF implicitly facilitate cognitions of psychopathy.

Despite growing research on online social networking, implicit associations of Facebook users hav... more Despite growing research on online social networking, implicit associations of Facebook users have been largely understudied. In Study 1, we used the Single-Target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT; Karpinski and Steinman, 2006) in order to assess implicit associations between Facebook and two evolutionary relevant constructs: sexual and prosocial behavior. Additionally, we controlled for the role of participant's relationship status as a potential moderator of Facebook implicit associations. In Study 2, we extended these findings and explored the relationship between implicit and explicit associations towards Facebook. Across two studies, we found that Facebook is more strongly associated with prosocial than with sexual behavior. This effect was not sensitive to sex differences. Further, Study 2 results revealed that implicit and (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). explicit associations did not correlate. We discuss the implications of these findings, underlining the role of implicit measures in cyberpsychology research.

New Ideas in Psychology, 2018

The “uncanny valley” hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005) states that a near-human looking entity can enge... more The “uncanny valley” hypothesis (Mori 1970/2005) states that a near-human looking entity can engender negative feelings in an observer. I analyze the phenomenology of the uncanny feeling, which is largely understudied despite being the dependent variable in empirical studies. Next, I introduce a social functionalist account to the uncanny valley research. I propose that the uncanny feeling is a social response triggered by the perception that something is ambiguously wrong with the “humanness” of the human-like stimuli, and therefore needs to be avoided. By doing so, the uncanny feeling functions as a “wrong outside, wrong inside” heuristic with central moral connotations. I conclude that rethinking the uncanny feeling as a social response helps to integrate controversial findings within the field.

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 2017

Few studies have addressed attitudes toward violence in offender populations using implicit measu... more Few studies have addressed attitudes toward violence in offender populations using implicit measures. The aim of this study is to test whether implicit attitudes toward two types of violence (physical and relational) differ between two groups of adolescent offenders: one group with conduct disorder (CD; n = 36) and the other group without this condition (No-CD; n = 26). We found that adolescent offenders with CD evidenced less negative implicit attitudes toward physical violence than the No-CD group. No differences between groups were observed in the case of relational violence. Our results suggest that CD modulates implicit attitudes toward violence in adolescent offenders and that the influence of CD is stronger in the case of physical rather than relational acts of violence.

Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria, 2017

Objective: Most studies on conduct disorder (CD) have focused on male adolescents, disregarding a... more Objective: Most studies on conduct disorder (CD) have focused on male adolescents, disregarding analysis of this psychopathology in women. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in empathy and theory of mind (ToM) in a group of adolescent women with CD and a control group. Method: Thirty-six adolescent women were selected from an initial sample of 239 adolescents (CD group = 18, control group = 18). Empathy and ToM were evaluated through objective instruments. Mean comparisons and multivariate analysis were performed to ascertain differences between cases and controls and to propose a prediction model based on clinical status. Results: Significant differences in empathic abilities and ToM were found between the groups. The model that differentiated both groups was composed of eye-reading ability, perspective taking, and personal distress. Conclusion: These findings are consistent with previous studies. Capacity to take the other's perspective and the recognition of emotions in the face are protective factors against CD in women.

Papeles del Psicólogo, 2017

The automatic nature of evaluative judgments and, in particular, the role of implicit processes i... more The automatic nature of evaluative judgments and, in particular, the role of implicit processes in this type of response is a central theme in cognitive psychology. The purpose of the present review is to explore the implications of the automaticity concept in social cognition, with a special emphasis on two well-documented phenomena: affective misattribution and embodiment. With this aim, we review the most relevant findings in this area, and we propose potential lines of application outside the laboratory. We conclude that affective misattribution is opera-tive in several domains of social cognition, which suggests that our daily life can benefit substantially from a better understanding of how our implicit mind works.

Escritos de Psicología, 2016

Uno de los principales debates dentro del estudio de la psicología de la emoción concierne a la c... more Uno de los principales debates dentro del estudio de la psicología de la emoción concierne a la concepción de las emociones como constructos psicológicos unificados (categoriales/discretos) en contraposición con el enfoque dimensional del episodio emocional. En este marco, el modelo dimensional de Russell (2003) destaca en el panorama académico al constituir una propuesta integradora que da cuenta de una serie de problemas históricos del ámbito de estudio. Con este fin, se realiza una aproximación analítica a dicho modelo y se argumenta su viabilidad. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo revisar la evidencia empírica a favor de cuatro hipótesis que sostiene el modelo dimensional de Russell: (1) Existe una primacía temporal de los afectos básicos frente a los componentes más cognitivos en el desarrollo de la emoción, (2) los cambios afectivos percibidos facilitan la accesibilidad del material hedónicamente congruente, (3) la mente humana puede atribuir erróneamente la experimentación de un determinado core affect al estímulo incorrecto, y (4) la experimentación de los componentes dimensionales facilita la ocurrencia de respuestas cognitivas congruentes. Se concluye que la combinación de componentes dimensionales inespecíficos, tanto de tipo puramente afectivo como de carácter más " cognitivo " constituyen ocasionalmente los prototipos emocionales. En consecuencia, se propone que el modelo dimensional de Russell (2003) constituye una alternativa integradora de gran potencial para abordar el estudio de la naturaleza de la emoción. Palabras Clave: Emoción; Cognición; Core Affect; Modelo Dimensional. One of the main debates in the study of the psychology of emotion concerns the conception of emotions as unified psychological constructs (categorical/discrete) versus the dimensional approach to emotional episodes. In this context , the dimensional model of Russell (2003) stands out as an inclusive framework that takes into account a set of historical problems in this field of study. We analysed the model, discussed its viability, and reviewed the empirical evidence in favour of four hypotheses that underlie Russell's dimensional model: (1) There is a temporary primacy of basic affects versus more cognitive components in the development of an emotion; (2) perceived affective changes facilitate access to hedonically congruent material; (3) the human mind can mistakenly attribute the experience of a specific core affect to the incorrect stimulus; and (4) the experience of the dimensional components facilitates the occurrence of congruent cognitive responses. The combination of nonspecific dimensional components, both purely affective as well as those with more "cognitive" characteristics, can act as prototypical emotions. We conclude that Russell's dimensional model is an integrated alternative to other models with great potential for studying the nature of emotion.

PLOS ONE, 2016

Previous research has identified a set of core factors that influence moral judgments. The presen... more Previous research has identified a set of core factors that influence moral judgments. The present study addresses the interplay between moral judgments and four factors: (a) incidental affects, (b) sociocultural context, (c) type of dilemma, and (d) participant's sex. We asked participants in two different countries (Colombia and Spain) to judge the acceptability of actions in response to personal and impersonal moral dilemmas. Before each dilemma an affective prime (erotic, pleasant or neutral pictures) was presented suboptimally. Our results show that: a) relative to neutral priming, erotic primes increase the acceptance of harm for a greater good (i.e., more utilitarian judgments), b) relative to Colombians, Spanish participants rated causing harm as less acceptable, c) relative to impersonal dilemmas, personal dilemmas reduced the acceptance of harm, and d) relative to men, women were less likely to consider harm acceptable. Our results are congruent with findings showing that sex is a crucial factor in moral cognition, and they extend previous research by showing the interaction between culture and incidental factors in the making of moral judgments.

The research from cognitive psychology has found a promising path of application in the field of ... more The research from cognitive psychology has found a promising path of application in the field of branding and consumer
behaviour. In this paper, we review the most striking findings in implicit cognition that are relevant to the research on
evaluations and decision making. In doing this, we expect to clarify the possible scope of cognitive psychology as a potential
tool for research in consumer psychology. In particular, we discuss the possible implications of this line of research for the
developing of two specific areas: subliminal advertising and implicit measures of brand perception.

Pensando Psicología

Diversos estudios realizados durante la última década sugieren que nuestra cognición moral está a... more Diversos estudios realizados durante la última década sugieren que nuestra cognición moral está ampliamente sustentada en procesos psicológicos automáticos. En este contexto, la correspondencia psicológica existente entre ciertos estados corporales y ciertos procesos cognitivos (embodiment) ha sido ampliamente documentada en los estudios relacionados a la moralidad. Por consiguiente, la presente revisión tiene como objetivo esclarecer la naturaleza del componente corpóreo de la cognición moral, con especial énfasis en la relación interdependiente entre la emoción de repugnancia, la sensación de limpieza física y los juicios morales. Se concluye que si bien la automaticidad de nuestra cognición moral parece facilitar la ocurrencia del embodiment, la evidencia sugiere que la naturaleza de las metáforas corpóreas implicadas en la vida moral es variable.

Papeles del Psicólogo

Las herramientas provenientes de la psicología cognitiva han encontrado una vía de aplicación pro... more Las herramientas provenientes de la psicología cognitiva han encontrado una vía de aplicación prometedora en el ámbito del branding y el comportamiento del consumidor. El presente artículo tiene como objetivo establecer sus posibles alcances. Con este fin, se realiza una revisión de los hallazgos más relevantes en cognición implícita relacionados a los procesos de evaluación y toma de decisiones. Asimismo, se discuten las posibles implicaciones de estos estudios para la investigación en publicidad subliminal y medidas implícitas de percepción de marca.

PLOS ONE

We examined the influence of affective priming on the appreciation of abstract artworks using an ... more We examined the influence of affective priming on the appreciation of abstract artworks using an evaluative priming task. Facial primes (showing happiness, disgust or no emotion) were presented under short (Stimulus Onset Asynchrony, SOA = 20ms) and extended (SOA = 300ms) conditions. Differences in aesthetic liking for abstract paintings depending on the emotion expressed in the preceding primes provided a measure of the priming effect. The results showed that, for the extended SOA, artworks were liked more when preceded by happiness primes and less when preceded by disgust primes. Facial expressions of happiness, though not of disgust, exerted similar effects in the short SOA condition.
Subjective measures and a forced-choice task revealed no evidence of prime awareness in the suboptimal condition. Our results are congruent with findings showing that the affective transfer elicited by priming biases evaluative judgments, extending previous research to the domain of aesthetic appreciation.

Anales de Psicología

The need for multidisciplinary approaches to the scientific study of human nature is a widely sup... more The need for multidisciplinary approaches to the scientific study of human nature is a widely supported academic claim. This assumption has proved to be especially successful in the field of moral psychology. Although studies of moral topics have been ubiquitous in both humanities and social sciences, it is not until the integration of different scientific disciplines in the convergent science of moral psychology that the study of morality seems to start its flourishing age. Thus, in the last ten years, a growing body of research from cognitive sciences, experimental philosophy, primatology, clinical and developmental psychology, economy and anthropology have made possible a “new era” on the study of morality. In this paper, we review the most striking findings that constitute the “state of the art” of moral psychology, with the aim to facilitate a better understanding of how the mind functions in the moral domain.

Psicothema , Apr 2013

Background. Disgust is, at its core, an emotion that responds to cues of parasites and infection,... more Background. Disgust is, at its core, an emotion that responds to cues of parasites and infection, likely to be evolved to protect human organism to the risk of disease. Interestingly, a growing body of research implicates disgust as an emotion central to human morality. The fact that disgust is associated with appraisals of moral transgressions and that this emotion influences moral judgments supposes a remarkable puzzle: Why an emotion that originally functions in the domain of infectious entities does become such a good candidate to play the role of a moral arbiter? The aim of the present review is to clarify the nature of the relationship between disgust and morality. Method. First, we examine the relevant features of disgust in order to explore whether disgust’s phenomenology favors its implementation as a defensive mechanism against offensive social entities. Second, we critically review the most striking findings about the effects of disgust on moral judgments. Results. The revisited analysis of the literature strongly suggests a bidirectional causal link between disgust and moral cognition. Conclusions. We propose that the particular phenomenology of disgust (which involves a sense of offensiveness and rejection) favored the co-adaptation of this emotion to the moral domain.

Todos los derechos reservados. De conformidad con lo dispuesto en la legislación vigente, podrán ... more Todos los derechos reservados. De conformidad con lo dispuesto en la legislación vigente, podrán ser castigados con penas de multa y privación de libertad quienes reproduzcan o plagien, en todo o en parte, una obra literaria, artística o científica, fijada en cualquier tipo y soporte, sin la preceptiva autorización

Previous studies have shown that disgust can shape moral judgments. However, the specificity of t... more Previous studies have shown that disgust can shape moral judgments. However, the specificity of this causal relationship remains unclear. The current investigation starts from an affective-dimensional point of view that could contribute to clarify this intriguing question. From this conceptual approach, we test how different affective primes (disgust and horror pictures), previously matched in valence and arousal, modify participant’s moral judgments. We predict the suboptimal affective priming effects are specific to moral judgments, therefore not influencing non-moral’s. METHOD. 78 participants (21 men; age M.= 20,51) were recruited from undergraduate students at the UIB and randomly assigned either to a disgust-prime or to a horror-prime group. They were asked to rate through a 7-point Likert Scale (7: very appropriate, 1: very inappropriate) two equivalent versions of each dilemma (15 moral pairs and 12 non-moral’s) after being presented with affective (disgust or horror) and neutral primes (SOA=20ms). Dilemmas were displayed in vignettes, also used as backward masks. RESULTS. Appropriateness scores for moral judgements were higher after disgust and horror primes than after neutral primes (p<0.001 for both comparisons). Interestingly, this was not the case for non-moral dilemmas (p<0.574 for disgust-neutral; p<0.819 for horror-neutral comparison). CONCLUSIONS. Suboptimal affective priming by disgust and fear pictures significantly reduces the severity of moral judgments, but have no effect on non-moral judgments. These findings suggest the effects of negative primes in moral judgments may be caused by a basic affective processing —quicker, implicit and probably unappraised— involved in the emotional experience of both disgust and horror.

Comptes rendus biologies (impact factor: 1.71). 02/2010; 333(2):174-80. DOI:10.1016/j.crvi.2009.12.005

Darwin admitted that the evolution of moral phenomena such as altruism and fairness, which are us... more Darwin admitted that the evolution of moral phenomena such as altruism and fairness, which are usually in opposition to the maximization of individual reproductive success, was not easily accounted for by natural selection. Later, authors have proposed additional mechanisms, including kin selection, inclusive fitness, and reciprocal altruism. In the present work, we explore the extent to which sexual selection has played a role in the appearance of human moral traits. It has been suggested that because certain moral virtues, including altruism and kindness, are sexually attractive, their evolution could have been shaped by the process of sexual selection. Our review suggests that although it is possible that sexual selection played such a role, it is difficult to determine the extent of its relevance, the specific form of this influence, and its interplay with other evolutionary mechanisms.

Previous studies have not properly delimited if disgust exerts a domain-specific influence on mor... more Previous studies have not properly delimited if disgust exerts a domain-specific influence on moral judgments. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first experiment investigating how affective priming can influence the moral judgment that a particular participant gives to a particular situation. The present study tests how contextual disgust induced through affective priming influences participant´s moral judgments. It is predicted that contextual induced disgust influences punctuations only in the stimulus selected as “moral dilemmas”. Forty participants (15 men) gave their punctuations for two versions of each dilemma (total 54 dilemas, 15 pairs moral and 12 pairs non-moral) one punctuation after a disgust prime and one after a neutral prime. A Pilot study was previously carried out in order to select which pairs of dilemmas differ in irrelevant variations. Disgusting images from IAPS were used as affective priming. Each dilemma was presented in vignettes that were accompanied with a 7-point Likert scale (from 7: very appropriate to 1: very inappropriate). Response time (RT) was considered and measured as a second dependent variable.Moral dilemmas were rated higher in appropriateness after affective priming than in neutral priming (p < .038). Interestingly, this was not the case for non-moral dilemmas (p < .815). Induction of contextual disgust through affective priming exerts a special influence on moral judgments by making them less severe. Importantly, this effect occurs just in the case of the appropriateness ratings that participants gave to moral dilemmas.

PERSPECTIVES 3.1.1. The effect of affective priming on moral judgment understood as an effect of ... more PERSPECTIVES 3.1.1. The effect of affective priming on moral judgment understood as an effect of the valence and/or arousal dimensions 3.1.2. The effect of affective priming on moral judgment understood as an effect mediated by the withdrawal motivational function... Effects of the time course of negative affective priming on moral judgment: the shortest the SOA, the lesser the severity. 3.1.3. The effect of affective priming on moral judgment understood as an effect of discrete emotions 3.3.1. Option A: Intensity of the affective induction 3.3.1.1. Thematic content of the primes 3.3.1.2. Time course of affective priming 3.3.2. Option B: Cognitive simplicity of the induced affective response 3.3.2.1. Embodiment theories of cognition 3.3.2.2. Appraisal-tendency framework (ATF) 3.4.1. To test the particular weight of the dimensions of valence and arousal in the effect of affective priming in moral judgment 3.4.2. To test the possible influence of the withdrawal motivational function in the effect of affective priming in moral judgment 3.4.3. To test whether different methods of affective induction influence moral judgment in the same manner 3.4.4. To test the effect of negative affects in the moral domain in clinical populations 3.4.5. To test the moral specificity of the obtained effect Antonio Olivera La Rosa 3.4.6. To test the possible application of the present findings to research on persuasion 3.4.7. To test the temporal dynamics of the present effect 3.4.8. To test the fundamental mechanisms by which negative affective priming reduces the severity of moral judgment 3.4.9. To search for the neural correlates of the response(s) induced through affective priming 3.4.10. To examine possible implications of this line of research to neuro-ethics Comparison of affective priming condition and neutral condition in the ratings of moral and non-moral dilemmas with 20-ms SOA. M M T N p M M T N p Comparison of affective priming condition and neutral condition in the ratings of moral and non-moral dilemmas with 250-ms SOA. 2.3.3. Results Comparison of ratings of moral and non-moral dilemmas in the dimension of valence. M M T N p Comparison of ratings of moral and non-moral dilemmas in the dimension of activation. M M T N p Comparison of RT of moral and non-moral dilemmas in the dimension of valence. M M T N p Comparison of RT of moral and non-moral dilemmas in the dimension of activation.