The Simon effect triggered by the gaze direction in painful and happy faces

Authors

  • Paulo Frassinetti Delfino do Nascimento Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Nelson Torro Alves Universidade Federal da Paraíba
  • Ana Mércia Fernandes Universidade Federal da Paraíba
  • José Aparecido da Silva Universidade de São Paulo
  • Luiz de Gonzaga Gawryszewski Universidade Federal Fluminense
  • Allan Pablo Lameira Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2018.1.26876

Keywords:

Empathy, Pain, Happiness, Simon effect.

Abstract

Although irrelevant to the task, gaze direction can influence reaction time responses in a Simon task insofar as it automatically generates a spatial code. Facial expressions also influence observers’ responses and they can activate approach or avoidance behavioral tendencies. In the present study, we investigated whether the facilitation of the response triggered by gaze direction would be reduced for the evaluation of facial expressions of pain as compared to happiness. We also analyzed the effect of sequence presentation of the facial expressions, in which the facilitation or inhibition caused by an emotional expression affects the response in a subsequent trial. Results show that painful faces cause a response inhibition in the present and subsequent trials, indicating an emotional empathy for pain. The type of the facial expression (happiness or pain) did not influenced the facilitation of the response promoted by gaze direction. This methodology is presented as a new strategy to investigate emotional empathy, especially in disorders related to the reduction of the empathy.

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Published

2018-04-04

How to Cite

do Nascimento, P. F. D., Alves, N. T., Fernandes, A. M., da Silva, J. A., Gawryszewski, L. de G., & Lameira, A. P. (2018). The Simon effect triggered by the gaze direction in painful and happy faces. Psico, 49(1), 43–49. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2018.1.26876

Issue

Vol. 49 No. 1 (2018)

Section

Articles

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