The Body-Specificity Hypothesis (BSH) suggests that the perception of space is influenced by the dominant hand: more precisely, the space associated with the dominant hand is considered positive, while that related to the non-dominant hand is conceived as negative. This association depends on scientific evidence demonstrating that greater fluency in movements is associated with increased positivity. Therefore, a movement performed with the dominant hand or in the space associated with it is considered more positive than one performed with the non-dominant hand/space, which is more negatively connoted. The present thesis examines the BSH in the context of digital interactions, focusing particularly on the swipe gesture on touchscreen devices (tablets). Experiments I and II involve right-handed (N=30) and left-handed participants (N=30) respectively, in making valence judgments on positive and negative images using the swipe gesture. Right-handers show faster responses (p=.01) in the congruent condition (swipe right for positive images; swipe left for negative images) compared to an incongruent condition (swipe right for negative images and swipe left for positive images) and a stimulus-hand compatibility effect (p < .001), where the left hand is faster for negative stimuli than positive ones. Left-handers, on the other hand, show a preference for the congruent condition (swipe left for positive images; swipe right for negative images) only when using the non-dominant hand (p < .001) and a valence reinforcement effect in the congruent condition (p = .01). Experiment III explores the extracorporeal and intracorporeal aspects of the BSH, involving a sample of 30 right-handed participants and revealing effects of both extracorporeal (p = .003) and intracorporeal (p < .001) origin. Experiment IV examines the effects of spatial location on valence evaluation, highlighting differences between right-handed (N=15) and left-handed participants (N=15). Specifically, right-handers tend to evaluate images placed on the left more negatively than those placed in the center (p = .007). Additionally, left-handers do not show statistically significant differences in valence evaluations across various stimuli (p = .85). An interaction effect between handedness and location (p = .02) reveals that left-handers tend to give higher evaluations (more positive) compared to right-handers. In conclusion, the four experimental studies presented in this thesis offer new insights into existing literature on embodied cognition, highlighting the intricate interplay between handedness, space-valence associations, hand-valence associations, and valence reinforcement effects. Additionally, they provide a practical perspective in real-world scenarios, emphasizing ecological settings. Furthermore, the thesis proposes that in natural settings, the BSH exhibits vulnerability to the prevalent digital language, specifically conveyed through the swipe gesture, incorporating inherent connotations. This susceptibility manifests in various ways among individuals, distinctly differentiating between right-handers and left-handers.

La Body-Specificity Hypothesis (BSH) suggerisce che la percezione dello spazio è influenzata dalla mano dominante: più precisamente, lo spazio associato alla mano dominante è considerato positivo, mentre quello relativo alla mano non dominante è concepito come negativo. Questa associazione dipende dal fatto che evidenze scientifiche hanno dimostrato che una maggiore fluidità nei movimenti è associata a una maggiore positività. Pertanto, un movimento compiuto con la mano dominante o nello spazio associato ad essa è concepito come più positivo rispetto a uno compiuto con la mano/spazio non dominante, più negativamente connotato. Il presente lavoro di tesi esamina la BSH nel contesto delle interazioni digitali, focalizzandosi in particolare sul gesto di scorrimento (swipe) sui dispositivi touchscreen (tablet). Gli Esperimenti I e II coinvolgono rispettivamente partecipanti destrimani (N=30) e mancini (N=30) nel formulare giudizi di valenza su immagini positive e negative mediante il gesto swipe. I destrimani mostrano risposte più veloci (p =.01) nella condizione congruente (swipe a destra per le immagini positive; swipe a sinistra per le immagini negative) rispetto a una incongruente (swipe a destra per le immagini negative e swipe a sinistra per le immagini positive) e un effetto di compatibilità stimolo-mano (p < .001), dove la mano sinistra è più rapida per gli stimoli negativi rispetto a quelli positivi. I mancini, invece, mostrano una preferenza per la condizione congruente (swipe a sinistra per le immagini positive; swipe a destra per le immagini negative) solo quando agiscono con la mano non dominante (p < .001) e un effetto di rinforzo della valenza (p = .01). L'Esperimento III esplora gli aspetti extracorporei e intracorporei della BSH, coinvolgendo un campione di 30 partecipanti destrimani e rivelando effetti sia di origine extracorporea (p = .003) sia di origine intracorporea (p < .001). L'Esperimento IV esamina gli effetti della posizione spaziale sulla valutazione di valenza, evidenziando differenze tra individui destrimani (N=15) e mancini (N=15). In particolare, i destrimani mostrano una tendenza a valutare le immagini poste a sinistra come più negative rispetto a quelle poste al centro (p = .007). Inoltre, le immagini poste a sinistra sono valutate come più positive dai mancini nella condizione congruente (p = .02). In conclusione, le quattro ricerche sperimentali presentate in questa tesi offrono nuovi spunti alla letteratura esistente sulla cognizione incorporata, evidenziando l'intricato intreccio tra lateralità, associazioni spazio-valenza, associazioni mano-valenza e effetti di rinforzo della valenza. Inoltre, forniscono una prospettiva pratica in contesti del mondo reale, sottolineando ambienti ecologici. La tesi propone inoltre che in contesti naturali, la BSH manifesta una vulnerabilità al diffuso linguaggio digitale, veicolato in modo specifico attraverso il gesto di scorrimento, incorporando connotazioni intrinseche. Questa suscettibilità si manifesta in modi diversi tra gli individui, differenziando nettamente tra destrimani e mancini.

(2024). EXPLORING THE BODY SPECIFICITY HYPOTHESIS IN ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2024).

EXPLORING THE BODY SPECIFICITY HYPOTHESIS IN ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS

MAISTO, MARTA
2024

Abstract

The Body-Specificity Hypothesis (BSH) suggests that the perception of space is influenced by the dominant hand: more precisely, the space associated with the dominant hand is considered positive, while that related to the non-dominant hand is conceived as negative. This association depends on scientific evidence demonstrating that greater fluency in movements is associated with increased positivity. Therefore, a movement performed with the dominant hand or in the space associated with it is considered more positive than one performed with the non-dominant hand/space, which is more negatively connoted. The present thesis examines the BSH in the context of digital interactions, focusing particularly on the swipe gesture on touchscreen devices (tablets). Experiments I and II involve right-handed (N=30) and left-handed participants (N=30) respectively, in making valence judgments on positive and negative images using the swipe gesture. Right-handers show faster responses (p=.01) in the congruent condition (swipe right for positive images; swipe left for negative images) compared to an incongruent condition (swipe right for negative images and swipe left for positive images) and a stimulus-hand compatibility effect (p < .001), where the left hand is faster for negative stimuli than positive ones. Left-handers, on the other hand, show a preference for the congruent condition (swipe left for positive images; swipe right for negative images) only when using the non-dominant hand (p < .001) and a valence reinforcement effect in the congruent condition (p = .01). Experiment III explores the extracorporeal and intracorporeal aspects of the BSH, involving a sample of 30 right-handed participants and revealing effects of both extracorporeal (p = .003) and intracorporeal (p < .001) origin. Experiment IV examines the effects of spatial location on valence evaluation, highlighting differences between right-handed (N=15) and left-handed participants (N=15). Specifically, right-handers tend to evaluate images placed on the left more negatively than those placed in the center (p = .007). Additionally, left-handers do not show statistically significant differences in valence evaluations across various stimuli (p = .85). An interaction effect between handedness and location (p = .02) reveals that left-handers tend to give higher evaluations (more positive) compared to right-handers. In conclusion, the four experimental studies presented in this thesis offer new insights into existing literature on embodied cognition, highlighting the intricate interplay between handedness, space-valence associations, hand-valence associations, and valence reinforcement effects. Additionally, they provide a practical perspective in real-world scenarios, emphasizing ecological settings. Furthermore, the thesis proposes that in natural settings, the BSH exhibits vulnerability to the prevalent digital language, specifically conveyed through the swipe gesture, incorporating inherent connotations. This susceptibility manifests in various ways among individuals, distinctly differentiating between right-handers and left-handers.
ACTIS GROSSO, ROSSANA
cognizione incarnata; congruenza; spazio-valenza; mano-valenza; fluenza motoria
compatibility effect; embodied cognition; body specificity; motor fluency; space-valence
M-PSI/01 - PSICOLOGIA GENERALE
Italian
20-mag-2024
36
2022/2023
open
(2024). EXPLORING THE BODY SPECIFICITY HYPOTHESIS IN ECOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENTS. (Tesi di dottorato, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, 2024).
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/477999
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