TERESA GARCIA-MARQUES (**)

RESUMO

Este artigo procura definir o fenómeno da “primação afectiva” (affective priming) discutindo a sua interpretação como sendo a de um fenómeno afectivo vs. um fenómeno cognitivo. Para tal são apresentados dois breves estudos que utilizam como estímulo-primo (prime) afectivo uma happy-face. O primeiro estudo demonstra a capacidade deste estímulo activar o fenómeno de primação afectiva. O segundo demonstra a sua capacidade de induzir nos participantes um estado de espírito positivo. A interpretação e discussão dos resultados é enquadrada na perspectiva teórica oferecida por Niendenthal e seus colaboradores, que sugere que a representação mental de um conceito tende a activar o afecto que lhe está associado.

Palavras-chave: Primação afectiva, primação cognitiva.

ABSTRACT

This article tries to define affective prime, discussing it as an affective or cognitive phenomenon. In two brief studies a happy-face is used as a prime. First study shows that this standardized stimulus impacts preference judgments of probes (greek characters). Second study shows that both subliminal and supraliminal presentation of a happy face impact how participants report to feel (their general mood state), although the effect is stronger in the first condition. Results are discussed within the framework offered by Niedenthal and colleagues, which suggests that mental representation of a concept activates the associated affect.

Key words: Affective priming, cognitive priming.

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(**) Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa.

Correspondência relativa a este artigo deve ser dirigida a Teresa Garcia-Marques, Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, ou ainda por correio electrónico para gmarques@ispa.pt