An event‐related potential study of self‐positivity bias in native and foreign language contexts. (14th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shuang; Schwieter, John W.; Wang, Fenqi; Liu, Huanhuan
• Is Part Of: Psychophysiology. Volume 60:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2022-07-14
• Subjects: bilingualism -- dual‐processing -- ERPs -- language context -- self‐positivity bias; Psychophysiology -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/psyp.14145
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0048-5772

Abstract

Abstract: Self‐positivity bias is a common psychological phenomenon in which individuals often associate positive information with themselves. However, little is known about how self‐positivity bias is modulated by different language contexts (e.g., a first vs. second language). To this end, we analyzed behavioral and electrophysiological data to examine whether first or second languages play differential roles in the self‐positivity bias effect. We used a modified self‐positivity bias task which required Chinese–English bilinguals to judge strings of letters or characters as realwords or not and match associations between identity (self, other) and a geometric shape (circle, triangle). The target words in the experiment consisted of positive, negative, and neutral emotional words. The results showed that in the L2 context, the self‐positivity condition elicited a smaller N400 effect relative to the self‐negativity condition and a larger late positive component effect relative to the self‐negativity and self‐neutrality conditions. Furthermore, the other‐positivity condition elicited a stronger N400 effect than the other‐neutrality condition. These patterns did not emerge in the L1 context. We discuss the implications and contributions of these findings to better understand the interaction between emotion and self‐concept in different language contexts. Abstract : A modified version of the self‐positivity bias task examined the role of the first languages (L1s) and second languages (L2s) in self‐concept bias.The results revealed self positive effects in the L2 but not in the L1. This pattern is consistent with the conceptual model, indicating that the higher demand of cognitive resources in the L2 may increase the attentional resources that are allocated to emotional stimuli.