Revenge is sweet: Investigation of the effects ofApproach‐Motivatedanger on theRewPin the motivated anger delay (MAD) paradigm

Abstract

Past research has found that neural activity associated with feedback processing is enhanced by positive approach‐motivated states. However, no past work has examined how reward processing changes in the context of revenge. Using a novel aggression paradigm, we sought to explore the influence of approach‐motivated anger on neural responses to feedback indicating the opportunity to seek revenge against an offending opponent by examining the reward positivity (RewP), an event‐related potential indexing performance feedback. In Experiment 1, after receiving insulting feedback from an opponent, participants played a reaction time game with three trial types: revenge trials, aggravation trials, and no‐consequence trials. Results revealed that RewP amplitudes were larger to revenge trial win feedback than no‐consequence trial win feedback or revenge trial loss feedback. RewP amplitudes were larger to both aggravation trial win and loss feedback than on no‐consequence trials. Experiment 2 examined the influence of approach‐motivated anger during the acquisition of rewards on the RewP without the possibility of retribution from the offending individual. Participants played a reaction time game similar to Experiment 1, except instead of giving or receiving noise blasts, participants could win money from the insulter (revenge trials) or a neutral‐party (e.g., bank). Results indicated that revenge wins elicited larger RewP amplitudes than bank wins. These results suggest that anger enhances revenge‐related RewP amplitudes to obtaining revenge opportunities and further aggravation wins or losses. Anger appears to enhance the pleasurable feelings of revenge.

A win-win situation: Does familiarity with a social robot modulate feedback monitoring and learning?

“…Statistical comparisons were based on a 180-ms window (300-480 ms). The larger P3 window is consistent with prior work that uses larger time windows for analyzing P3 amplitudes (Gajewski et al, 2008;Hilgard et al, 2014;Threadgill & Gable, 2020). Analysis of the P3 amplitudes were using a 2 x 2 repeated measures mixed ANOVA with Ownership (Self vs. Cozmo) as a within factor and Familiarity (High vs. Low) as a between factor.…”

“…Lastly, it is important to acknowledge that, as the interaction with Cozmo involved a competitive task, participants in the high-familiarity condition may have been predisposed to experience greater reward processing as a result of being motivated by the competitive nature of the engagement task. In line with this idea is work showing that the RewP is enhanced when tasks are performed in a social context (Wilhelm et al, 2019), even when the social context involves insults that promote anger in the participant (Threadgill & Gable, 2020). Threadgill and Gable (2020) posit this could be due to the pleasurable feeling associated with revenge.…”

“…In line with this idea is work showing that the RewP is enhanced when tasks are performed in a social context (Wilhelm et al, 2019), even when the social context involves insults that promote anger in the participant (Threadgill & Gable, 2020). Threadgill and Gable (2020) posit this could be due to the pleasurable feeling associated with revenge. In future work, it would be informative to include a noncompetitive or cooperative engagement task to determine whether tasks that induce emotions of differing valence impact reward processing.…”

How Does Emotion Influence Time Perception? A Review of Evidence Linking Emotional Motivation and Time Processing

“…For example, anger is a negative affect associated with approach motivation ( Carver and Harmon-Jones, 2009 ; Harmon-Jones et al, 2011 ). Anger high in motivational intensity narrows an organism’s cognitive and attentional scope and can motivate goal acquisition ( Gable et al, 2015 ; Threadgill and Gable, 2020 ). Similarly, sadness is a negative affect that can be associated with approach motivation ( Higgins et al, 1997 ; Carver, 2004 ; Gable et al, 2016 ).…”

The Satisfaction Is Mine: Extrinsic Reward Reduces Desire for Revenge

“…However, revenge is also motivated by anticipated feelings of satisfaction from balancing the scales (McCullough, Bellah, Kilpatrick, & Johnson, 2001). Respectively, winning the chance to take revenge against the offender activates neural signatures associated with reward processing (i.e., RewP;Threadgill & Gable, 2020). Increased activity of the brain regions associated with reward was found to be associated with greater desire to retaliate against a person who played unfairly in economic exchange (Singer et al, 2006).…”