Psychology Research and Behavior Management (Oct 2024)

The Role of Disgust Certainty in Intuitive Thought Processing: Electrophysiological Evidence

  • Li Z,
  • Bao W,
  • Wang Y,
  • Yan S,
  • Zheng H,
  • Luo J

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 17
pp. 3709 – 3719

Abstract

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Zhaoxian Li,1 Wei Bao,1 Yao Wang,1 Shangsong Yan,1 Hong Zheng,2 Junlong Luo1,3 1Psychology College, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 2Changning Mental Health Center Affiliated with East China Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Lab for Educational Big Data and Policymaking, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hong Zheng; Junlong Luo, Email [email protected]; [email protected]: The impact of emotions on intuitive and analytical thinking has been widely studied. Most research suggests that negative emotions enhance analytical processing. However, there are studies indicating that the sense of certainty associated with disgust can stimulate intuitive processing. Despite these findings, the neuroelectrophysiological evidence supporting the role of disgust in promoting intuitive processing remains unexplored.Methods: This study aimed to investigate the neuroelectrophysiological mechanisms by which disgust promotes intuitive processing. A total of 54 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to specific emotion groups. Emotional states were induced by exposing participants to disgust and fear videos designed to evoke specific dimensions of certainty and uncertainty. Event-related potentials (ERP) and the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) were utilized as experimental materials to measure participants’ responses.Results: The results demonstrated that disgust facilitated intuitive thinking, as evidenced by the lowest accuracy in behavioral outcomes. ERP findings showed that disgust led to smaller N2 and larger P3b amplitudes under conditions of conflict. These results suggest that disgust reduces individuals’ conflict-detection ability, resulting in a stronger sense of certainty in intuitive but incorrect answers.Conclusion: This study provides neuroelectrophysiological evidence that disgust enhances intuitive thinking. The findings offer a new perspective on the influence of emotions on dual-process thinking, highlighting the role of disgust in shaping intuitive and analytical thought processes.Keywords: certain, uncertain, disgust, fear, dual-process theory, N2, P3b

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