Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: * For Consideration for the Conference within a Conference *
A large body of research suggests human emotions are organized around two basic motivational systems: the appetitive system and the aversive system (P.J. Lang, Bradley & Cuthbert, 1997). It has also been suggested that these two systems are separate, and do not always work reciprocally (Cacioppo & Gardner, 1999).
Based on this view of emotion, this study explored the variation in the activation of the appetitive and aversive motivational systems as a function of threat types in the context of video game play. One interesting notion that came from Cacioppo and his colleagues is the state of coactivation, where both motivational systems are activated at the same time. Relatively little work has been done around this idea in psychology, and communication scholars have just started to study the effect of coactivation on information processing (e.g., Lang & Sanders-Jackson, 2006)
This study used a custom-built video game to manipulate the subjects’ motivational system activation to compare three different motivational states: appetitive, aversive, and coactive. Predictions for information processing were made based on the Limited Capacity Model of Motivated Mediated Message Processing (LC4MP, Lang 2006a, 2006b). The manipulation of the targeted motivational systems was successful, and the data found general support for the theory. Overall, the findings from this study provide insight to the relationship between motivational system activation and information processing.

Publication Type: Extended Abstract
Abstract: This paper examines how the individual differences in motivational activation impact the processing of messages which activate the appetitive system, the motivational system, or both systems. Dependent variables include continuous response ratings of postive and negative emotion, STRTs, memory for details, and memory for major points of the PSAs.

Publication Type: Extended Abstract
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: People often experience mixed feelings. Underlying the mixed feelings is coactivation of aversive and appetitive motivational systems (Cacioppo & Berntson, 1994; Cacioppo, Gardner, & Berntson, 1999). The conceptual development of coactivation can be retrieved back to more than half a century ago (e.g., Miller & Dollard, 1941) and many emotional and motivational theories allow a coactive state of their dual systems. A critical question is how this coactive state distinguishes itself from the reciprocal state (when activation of one system suppresses the other system) in terms of subjective feelings, physiological responses, and adaptive functions. Three studies are designed to explores this question.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: The institutional literature has focused on the institution and actor as constants and their interaction as variable. Additional literature has begun to focus on the institution and its many facets as variables, but there has been scant work done to apply organizational theory to the design of institutions. In other words, does the organizational architecture and design of institutions influence their actions and the actions of their members? We argue that coactivational organizations diffuse norms and the actions of the members more than cointegrational organizations. Coactivational and conitegrational organizations provide differing incentive structures to their members that causes divergent patterns in institution and member behavior.The research will focus on the United Nations General Assembly and the World Trade Organization to understand the importance of organization to institutions. The research will focus first on the theory of coactivational and cointegrational organizations, how they are conceptualized, and their internal mechanisms. Second, we will apply coactivational and cointegrational organization theory to the UN General Assembly and the WTO to better understand the organizational mechanisms and incentives which promote adherence and compliance to norms, values, and standards by members. We argue that the organization of the institution strongly influences what members seek from them, how members utilize them, and their efficacy in diffusing their respective norms, values, and standards. If organization does not matter in institutional efficacy, than any body that holds similar values would achieve similar efficacy in diffusing specific norms.

Publication Type: Extended Abstract
Abstract: This paper examines the physiological, cognitive, and emotional responses of participants while viewing messages which are increasingly emotionally positive, negative, or both negative and positive. It is expected that the emotional content will activate either the aversive, the appetitive, or both motivational systems which should predictably influence resource allocation, cognitive effort, encoding, and storage. Motivational activation will be measured using probe reflex measures (PAR for appetitive activation and startle magnitude for aversive activation). Valence and intensity of emotional experience will be measured using self report, facial EMG, and skinc conductance. Cognitive effort will be assessed using HR. Encoding and storage will be measured using recognition and cued recall respectively.