Belief in the ability to ameliorate an anger-inducing situation resulted in greater relative left midfrontal cortical activity compared to believing nothing could be done.
Does belief in coping potential increase relative left midfrontal cortical activity in university students facing an anger-inducing situation?
The study demonstrates that coping potential during an anger-inducing event specifically increases left midfrontal cortical activity, which is linked to proactive behavioral responses.
The present research tested whether relative left midfrontal cortical activity would be greater when individuals believed they could engage in behaviour to ameliorate an anger-inducing situation as compared to when they believed they could do nothing. The research also examined whether relative left midfrontal cortical activity would relate to behaviors aimed at ameliorating the anger-inducing situation, when individuals believed they could do something. To test these primary hypotheses, university students who were opposed to a tuition increase at their university were exposed to a pilot radio editorial that argued for increased tuition, and their electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, self-reported emotions, and behavioural responses were then collected. Prior to hearing the editorial, participants were led to believe that the tuition increase would definitely occur or that the tuition increase may occur and that petitions were being circulated to attempt to prevent it. Results supported the primary hypotheses and also revealed that relative left midfrontal activity was associated with anger in response to the editorial and that the effects were specific to the midfrontal cortical regions.
Harmon‐Jones et al. (Wed,) conducted a other in Anger and coping potential. Belief that tuition increase may occur and petitions could prevent it (coping potential) vs. Belief that tuition increase would definitely occur (no coping potential) was evaluated on Relative left midfrontal cortical activity (EEG), self-reported emotions, and behavioural responses. Belief in the ability to ameliorate an anger-inducing situation resulted in greater relative left midfrontal cortical activity compared to believing nothing could be done.