One Way and the Other: The Bidirectional Relationship Between Ambivalence and Body Movement

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • I.K. Schneider - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • A. Eerland - , Erasmus University Rotterdam (Author)
  • F. van Harreveld - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • M. Rotteveel - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • J. van der Pligt - , University of Amsterdam (Author)
  • N. van der Stoep - , Utrecht University (Author)
  • R.A. Zwaan - , Erasmus University Rotterdam (Author)

Abstract

Prior research exploring the relationship between evaluations and body movements has focused on one-sided evaluations. However, people regularly encounter objects or situations about which they simultaneously hold both positive and negative views, which results in the experience of ambivalence. Such experiences are often described in physical terms: For example, people say they are “wavering” between two sides of an issue or are “torn.” Building on this observation, we designed two studies to explore the relationship between the experience of ambivalence and side-to-side movement, or wavering. In Study 1, we used a Wii Balance Board to measure movement and found that people who are experiencing ambivalence move from side to side more than people who are not experiencing ambivalence. In Study 2, we induced body movement to explore the reverse relationship and found that when people are made to move from side to side, their experiences of ambivalence are enhanced.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)319 - 325
JournalPsychological Science
Volume24
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

Scopus 84875019422

Keywords

Library keywords