Description:
<jats:p>Ambivalent pictures offer several interpretations of different valence-e.g.,
some photographs by Claudia Otto document scenes which can be perceived as
sad or happy, dangerous or sweet, and so on. We show that task experiences
influence the experienced valence of these images. Previous work already
documented that responses to images are task-dependent and self-created
insights heighten pleasure. A resulting positive mood and high self-efficacy
might broaden attention to positive valence. In contrast, low self-efficacy
leads to the prediction of negative task experiences and strengthens the
salience of a positive experience. In our study, participants rated the
valence of ambivalent photographs to be more positive after positive feedback
regarding the accomplishment of a precedent puzzle. We revealed a trend of
positive feedback being more effective when it followed negative experiences.
The experience of ambivalent images is strongly linked to mood and
self-efficacy and both is influenced by taskexperiences in psycho-aesthetic
studies.</jats:p>