Academic Bibliography

 Search 200 years of publications by Ghent University researchers.
Advanced search
3 files | 5.07 MB
Add to list
  1. Search results
  2. Can approach-avoidance instructions i...

Can approach-avoidance instructions influence facial representations? A distinction between past- and future-oriented inferences

Marine Rougier (UGent) , Pieter Van Dessel (UGent) , Tal Moran and Colin Tucker Smith
(2025) JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. 119.
Author
Organization
Project
Abstract
Mere instructions about a supposedly upcoming approach/avoidance training (i.e., "you will approach stimulus A and avoid stimulus B") can influence stimuli evaluation (e.g., stimulus A is evaluated more positively). In this work, we argue that because approach/avoidance instructions are typically future-oriented (e.g., "you will approach stimulus A"), they are less powerful than past-oriented information (e.g., "you approached stimulus A"). We introduce the placebo approach/avoidance training, a procedure implementing past-oriented information that involves a bogus training without actual contingencies between stimuli and approach/avoidance actions. Experiments 1a and 1b revealed an approach/avoidance effect on visual representations when employing placebo training. Experiment 2 showed that the effect of placebo training (involving past-oriented information) is larger than the effect of approach/avoidance instructions (involving future-oriented information). Finally, Experiment 3 replicated the distinct effect of past- vs. future-oriented approach/avoidance information by controlling for the experience of approaching/avoiding stimuli. This work highlights the role of past-oriented thinking in approach/avoidance effects.
Keywords
Approach/avoidance training, VAAST, Reverse correlation, Placebo effect, Mere instruction

Downloads

  • Download
    Rougier VanDessel etal PlaceboAAT JESP 2025.pdf
    • full text (Accepted manuscript)
    • |
    • open access
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 1.11 MB
  • Download
    (...).docx
    • data factsheet
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • Word
    • |
    • 24.65 KB
  • Download
    (...).pdf
    • full text (Published version)
    • |
    • UGent only
    • |
    • PDF
    • |
    • 3.93 MB

Citation

Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:

MLA
Rougier, Marine, et al. “Can Approach-Avoidance Instructions Influence Facial Representations? A Distinction between Past- and Future-Oriented Inferences.” JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 119, 2025, doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104756.
APA
Rougier, M., Van Dessel, P., Moran, T., & Smith, C. T. (2025). Can approach-avoidance instructions influence facial representations? A distinction between past- and future-oriented inferences. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104756
Chicago author-date
Rougier, Marine, Pieter Van Dessel, Tal Moran, and Colin Tucker Smith. 2025. “Can Approach-Avoidance Instructions Influence Facial Representations? A Distinction between Past- and Future-Oriented Inferences.” JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 119. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104756.
Chicago author-date (all authors)
Rougier, Marine, Pieter Van Dessel, Tal Moran, and Colin Tucker Smith. 2025. “Can Approach-Avoidance Instructions Influence Facial Representations? A Distinction between Past- and Future-Oriented Inferences.” JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 119. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104756.
Vancouver
1.
Rougier M, Van Dessel P, Moran T, Smith CT. Can approach-avoidance instructions influence facial representations? A distinction between past- and future-oriented inferences. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY. 2025;119.
IEEE
[1]
M. Rougier, P. Van Dessel, T. Moran, and C. T. Smith, “Can approach-avoidance instructions influence facial representations? A distinction between past- and future-oriented inferences,” JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, vol. 119, 2025.
@article{01JSYDQV49SK89W392C2HBK9J4,
  abstract     = {{Mere instructions about a supposedly upcoming approach/avoidance training (i.e., "you will approach stimulus A and avoid stimulus B") can influence stimuli evaluation (e.g., stimulus A is evaluated more positively). In this work, we argue that because approach/avoidance instructions are typically future-oriented (e.g., "you will approach stimulus A"), they are less powerful than past-oriented information (e.g., "you approached stimulus A"). We introduce the placebo approach/avoidance training, a procedure implementing past-oriented information that involves a bogus training without actual contingencies between stimuli and approach/avoidance actions. Experiments 1a and 1b revealed an approach/avoidance effect on visual representations when employing placebo training. Experiment 2 showed that the effect of placebo training (involving past-oriented information) is larger than the effect of approach/avoidance instructions (involving future-oriented information). Finally, Experiment 3 replicated the distinct effect of past- vs. future-oriented approach/avoidance information by controlling for the experience of approaching/avoiding stimuli. This work highlights the role of past-oriented thinking in approach/avoidance effects.}},
  articleno    = {{104756}},
  author       = {{Rougier, Marine and Van Dessel, Pieter and Moran, Tal and Smith, Colin Tucker}},
  issn         = {{0022-1031}},
  journal      = {{JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY}},
  keywords     = {{Approach/avoidance training,VAAST,Reverse correlation,Placebo effect,Mere instruction}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{17}},
  title        = {{Can approach-avoidance instructions influence facial representations? A distinction between past- and future-oriented inferences}},
  url          = {{http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2025.104756}},
  volume       = {{119}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}
Altmetric
View in Altmetric
Web of Science
Times cited: