From anger to attribution: Could attention be a bridge?

• Xiaofan Peng

  Southwest University

• Maoyang Zhang

  Chongqing Normal University

• Dajun Zhang

  Southwest University

• Deguang Xie

  Chongqing Technology and Business Institute

• Yusheng Guan

  Southwest University

We explored whether or not anger increases attribution bias toward salient information by narrowing attention scope. In Experiment 1, participants made attributions about 6 daily events while experiencing anger or in a neutral state. The anger group was more biased toward the salient factor compared to the neutral group. Using eye-tracking methodology, in Experiment 2 we further demonstrated that attention scope that is narrowed due to anger is related to a polarized distribution of attention resources, particularly decreased eye fixation on the phrase containing nonsalient factors. Finally, in Experiment 3 we separated attention process from information salience and further confirmed that narrowing attention scope (polarizing attention resource) could bias the attribution. In sum, our results indicate that attention scope is the bridge by which anger increases attribution bias.

1. Xiaofan Peng, Southwest University
   School of Psychology
2. Maoyang Zhang, Chongqing Normal University
   School of Educational Science
3. Dajun Zhang, Southwest University
   School of Psychology
4. Deguang Xie, Chongqing Technology and Business Institute
   Department of Students' Affairs
5. Yusheng Guan, Southwest University
   School of Psychology

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