The Role of Emotional Valence for the Processing of Facial and Verbal Stimuli-Positivity or Negativity Bias?

ABSTRACT: Emotional valence is predominately conveyed in social interactions by words and facial expressions. The existence of broad biases which favor more efficient processing of positive or negative emotions is still a controversial matter. While so far this question has been investigated separately for each modality, in this narrative review of the literature we focus on valence effects in processing both words and facial expressions. In order to identify the factors underlying positivity and negativity effects, and to uncover whether these effects depend on modality and age, we present and analyze three representative overviews of the literature concerning valence effects in word processing, face processing, and combinations of word and face processing. Our analysis of word processing studies p

SUBMITTER: Kauschke C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6676801 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature