EMOTIONAL CONNOTATION IN SPEECH-PERCEPTION - SEMANTIC ASSOCIATIONS INTHE GENERAL LEXICON

Lexical access of emotion words has been shown to depend on three unde rlying dimensions (Evaluation, Activity, and Potency). The importance of these dimensions of emotional connotation was assessed during on-li ne speech perception of words drawn from the general lexicon. Lexical decision times were significantly predicted by main effects of Evaluat ion and Potency, as well as by an Evaluation x Activity interaction an d an Evaluation x Potency interaction. An evolutionary account is prop osed to explain the differential processing of words in the general an d affective lexica. Whereas the affective lexicon seems to be structur ed to avoid threats to the individual, the general lexicon appears to be designed for obtaining scarce but valuable resources.