Emotions Drive Attention

In a 3 phrase research study to determine the stimuli that drives fear, Psychologists Arne Öhman, Ph.D., Anders Flykt, Ph.D. and Francisco Esteves, Ph.D., observed 3 of the control groups reaction to distinct fear driven images of reptiles, animals, faces and insects. Also, they kept data on the stimuli that had no relationship to fear such as flowers or vegetables. (Ohman et al, 2001) What the researchers discovered was that our cognitive abilities, phobias, and memory retrieved information very quickly and produced a significant reactions from the subjects. (Ohman et al, 2001) Hypervigilence, memory recall, emotional intelligence, and Gestalt Law gave inference as to how the subjects were able to interpret what they saw and give rise to reaction. The results were consistent and the researchers found that the subjects automatically and unconsciously searched for the one most feared images first; insects and snakes. However, they simultaneously looked for the distractors which were the more pleasant images of flowers and mushrooms. This affirmed the researchers’ hypothesis that phobias and the paranoia that is instilled in people regarding perceived threats. (Ohman et al, 2001; Ryan, 2011, p.61-79) It is retained in our memory and retrieved automatically to cause a reaction as a defense mechanism called “feature detection.” (Ryan, 2011, p.67)