Summary: People with depressive symptoms are more likely to interpret neutral images as negative when those images are surrounded by unrelated negative visuals. This emotional “spillover” effect shows how peripheral cues—like background imagery or context—can shape our emotional responses more than we realize.
Surprisingly, positive surroundings did not ease reactions to negative content or change perception significantly, suggesting an emotional asymmetry in how we process context. These findings may explain why people with depression often experience intensified negative emotions in everyday situations.
Key Facts:
- Contextual Bias: Negative peripheral images intensified emotional reactions to neutral content in people with depressive symptoms.
- Asymmetry in Response: Positive surroundings did not significantly alter emotional reactions, highlighting a stronger influence of negative cues.
- Mental Health Implications: Understanding peripheral influence may guide therapies aimed at improving emotional regulation in depression.
Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A new study conducted by researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals how seemingly irrelevant visual cues—known as peripheral information—can significantly influence emotional responses, especially among individuals with depressive symptoms.
The study, led by Prof. Nilly Mor of the Seymour Fox School of Education and Department of Psychology, and Tamar Amishav, a doctoral researcher, examined how context shapes the emotional intensity of reactions to everyday images.
The findings shed light on an underexplored mechanism that could help explain why people with depression often experience more intense negative emotions.
Contextual Triggers for Emotional Intensity
In a pair of experiments involving over 270 undergraduate participants, the researchers presented images designed to evoke emotional reactions. Each target image (neutral or negative in tone) was shown either alone or flanked by peripheral images with neutral, negative, or positive emotional content.
The results were striking: individuals reporting higher levels of depressive symptoms consistently rated neutral images as more emotionally negative when they were presented alongside negative peripheral pictures. This pattern did not hold when the peripheral images were positive or neutral.
“Our emotional experiences are rarely shaped by a single stimulus alone,” said Prof. Mor.
“This research shows that people—especially those with depressive tendencies—may be more vulnerable to the emotional ‘spillover’ of surrounding negativity, even when it’s not directly relevant to the situation at hand.”
Challenging Common Assumptions
Interestingly, the presence of positive peripheral images did not significantly soften emotional reactions to negative target images. Nor did depression levels moderate the influence of positive surroundings.
This contradicts some common assumptions that introducing positive stimuli might offset negative emotional responses.
“These findings suggest that negative cues have a stronger influence on emotional interpretation than positive ones, especially in those with depressive symptoms,” noted Amishav.
“This asymmetry may help explain why individuals with depression often perceive the world through a darker lens, even in neutral settings.”
Implications for Mental Health Interventions
The study not only highlights a novel emotional bias in depression but also opens potential pathways for interventions. For example, therapeutic techniques could be developed to help individuals recognize and regulate the impact of peripheral negativity in everyday life—be it from social media, advertising, or environmental stimuli.
“Recognizing the subtle power of context may help us build better tools to support emotional resilience,” said Prof. Mor.
About this depression and emotion research news
Author: Danae Marx
Source: Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Contact: Danae Marx – Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Closed access.
“Peripheral Information’s Effect on Emotional Intensity Depends on Depression Level” by Nilly Mor et al. Emotion
Abstract
Peripheral Information’s Effect on Emotional Intensity Depends on Depression Level
This research examined the effect of peripheral information on emotional responses and depression-related differences in this effect.
In two experiments, undergraduate students, representing a subclinical sample with varying levels of depression, rated their emotional responses to neutral and negative target pictures.
The target pictures were presented alone or with negative and neutral peripheral pictures (Study 1), or with negative and positive pictures (Study 2).
As predicted, across studies, depressive symptoms were associated with more negative emotional responses to neutral pictures when these were presented in the context of peripheral negative pictures as compared to neutral or positive peripheral pictures.
Contrary to predictions, positive peripheral pictures did not attenuate responses to negative target pictures, and depression did not moderate the effect of positive information on emotional responses.
These results highlight the potential impact of contextual negative peripheral information on the emotional responses of individuals with depressive symptoms and suggest avenues for exploring interventions aimed at modifying negative affective responses.
