Conceptual metaphor and spatial representations of time : the role of affect

Abstract

Conceptual metaphor involves understanding abstract concepts (e.g., time) in terms of more concrete bodily experiences (e.g., spatial location and movement). Research has identified two different spatio-temporal metaphorical perspectives on time, as reflected in the contrast between "Christmas is coming" and "We are approaching Christmas". It has been found that which perspective is chosen can depend on the perceiver's situation and experience. Four recent studies (Hauser, Carter, & Meier, 2009; Lee & Ji, 2014; Margolies & Crawford, 2008; Richmond, Clare Wilson, & Zinken, 2012) examined the role of emotion on choice of temporal perspective. The current project sought to address the anomalous results and several key issues arising from those studies. First, a series of critical questions were developed and discussed from interrogating the wider research literature on the two spatio-temporal metaphors and from conducting a research synthesis that examined methodological and statistical issues in that wider literature. This was followed by two experiments. The first experiment tested which of two emotion-induction methods, text or film, would be more effective. The second experiment examined the effect of induced emotion (via text) and event valence on choice of spatio-temporal metaphor. Participants (n = 504) were randomly assigned to one of nine experimental conditions, each participant having either a positive, negative, or neutral emotion induced and responding about an event that was either positive, negative or neutral. Additional measures were taken of trait test anxiety, social anxiety, and more general negative emotional states. Emotion induction was effective and there was a significant difference in some responses for traits and for more general negative emotional states. No other significant differences were found. The combined results of the literature interrogation, research synthesis, and experiments are discussed in light of the changing climate in psychology favouring a broader approach to science that includes conceptual analysis, null results, and replications. It is argued that the project has highlighted a previously unacknowledged relationship between emotion, event valence, and temporal perspective, and has revealed a general misunderstanding regarding the interpretation of responses on the standard measures used. This suggests redirection along more fruitful lines of future research into the effect of emotion on choice of spatio-temporal metaphor.

Date of Award	2017
Original language	English