van Dantzig Saskia, Pecher Diane, Zwaan Rolf A
Psychology Department T12-37, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Q J Exp Psychol (Hove). 2008 Sep;61(9):1298-306. doi: 10.1080/17470210802027987.
Numerous studies use arm movements (arm flexion and extension) to investigate the interaction between emotional stimuli and approach/avoidance behaviour. In many experiments, however, these arm movements are ambiguous. Arm flexion can be interpreted either as pulling (approach) or as withdrawing (avoidance). On the contrary, arm extension can be interpreted as reaching (approach) or as pushing (avoidance). This ambiguity can be resolved by regarding approach and avoidance as flexible action plans that are represented in terms of their effects. Approach actions reduce the distance between a stimulus and the self, whereas avoidance actions increase that distance. In this view, action effects are an integral part of the representation of an action. As a result, a neutral action can become an approach or avoidance reaction if it repeatedly results in decreasing or increasing the distance to a valenced stimulus. This hypothesis was tested in the current study. Participants responded to positive and negative words using key-presses. These "neutral" responses (not involving arm flexion or extension) were consistently followed by a stimulus movement toward or away from the participant. Responses to emotional words were faster when the response's effect was congruent with stimulus valence, suggesting that approach/avoidance actions are indeed defined in terms of their outcomes.
许多研究利用手臂动作（手臂屈伸）来探究情绪刺激与趋近/回避行为之间的相互作用。然而，在许多实验中，这些手臂动作具有模糊性。手臂弯曲既可以被解释为拉（趋近），也可以被解释为撤回（回避）。相反，手臂伸展既可以被解释为够取（趋近），也可以被解释为推（回避）。通过将趋近和回避视为以其效果来表征的灵活行动计划，可以解决这种模糊性。趋近动作会缩短刺激与自身之间的距离，而回避动作会增加该距离。按照这种观点，动作效果是动作表征的一个组成部分。因此，如果一个中性动作反复导致与一个有价值刺激的距离减小或增大，那么它就可以变成一个趋近或回避反应。本研究对这一假设进行了检验。参与者通过按键对积极和消极词汇做出反应。这些“中性”反应（不涉及手臂屈伸）之后会持续伴随着一个刺激朝向或远离参与者移动。当反应效果与刺激效价一致时，对情绪词汇的反应会更快，这表明趋近/回避动作确实是根据其结果来定义的。
