Viewing Cute Images Increases Behavioral Carefulness
Sercan İşcan - Tourism Management – 10020003017
PART I.
Sherman, G. D., Haidt, J., & Coan, J. A. (2009). Viewing cute images increases behavioral carefulness. Emotion, 9, 282-286. doi:10.1037/a0014904
This article examined how the perception of cuteness influences behavioral carefulness, enhancing people’s ability to care for infants. While researchers took physiological measures of heart activity and skin conductance, they exposed participants to a slide show of pictures of either i) infant animals (kittens and puppies) previously judged as very cute, or ii) adult animals (cats and dogs) judged to be less cute. Both before and after the slideshow, participants played the game “Operation” that required them to use tweezers to remove plastic body parts without touching the sides of the compartments. The game served as an assessment of behavioral carefulness. Participants exposed to cute infant animals displayed greater improvements in fine-motor control from before to after the slide show. Lack of consistent changes in physiological measures ruled out general physiological arousal as an explanation. Results indicated that cuteness not only motivates people to nurture, but also enhances their ability to do so.
1. What are the Independent Variable; Dependent Variable and their operational (measurable) definitions here?
2. What are the potential confounding variables in this experiment?
3. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the above study design?
4. How strong is the external validity of this research design? (While answering this question think about these: How effectively does the manipulation of cuteness used in the study relate to infant care? Does a participant’s performance in the game “Operation” really transfer to nurturing? Why or why not?)
5. One element in this design was a pretest and posttest measure. What are the advantages of using this type of design? Was it necessary?
6. Can you find other ways to manipulate
PART I.
Sherman, G. D., Haidt, J., & Coan, J. A. (2009). Viewing cute images increases behavioral carefulness. Emotion, 9, 282-286. doi:10.1037/a0014904
This article examined how the perception of cuteness influences behavioral carefulness, enhancing people’s ability to care for infants. While researchers took physiological measures of heart activity and skin conductance, they exposed participants to a slide show of pictures of either i) infant animals (kittens and puppies) previously judged as very cute, or ii) adult animals (cats and dogs) judged to be less cute. Both before and after the slideshow, participants played the game “Operation” that required them to use tweezers to remove plastic body parts without touching the sides of the compartments. The game served as an assessment of behavioral carefulness. Participants exposed to cute infant animals displayed greater improvements in fine-motor control from before to after the slide show. Lack of consistent changes in physiological measures ruled out general physiological arousal as an explanation. Results indicated that cuteness not only motivates people to nurture, but also enhances their ability to do so.
1. What are the Independent Variable; Dependent Variable and their operational (measurable) definitions here?
2. What are the potential confounding variables in this experiment?
3. What are the key strengths and weaknesses of the above study design?
4. How strong is the external validity of this research design? (While answering this question think about these: How effectively does the manipulation of cuteness used in the study relate to infant care? Does a participant’s performance in the game “Operation” really transfer to nurturing? Why or why not?)
5. One element in this design was a pretest and posttest measure. What are the advantages of using this type of design? Was it necessary?
6. Can you find other ways to manipulate