Sad Children Out-Perform Happy Children In
Attention-To-Detail Tasks
June 3, 2008
Psychologists at the University of Virginia and the University of Plymouth
(United Kingdom) have conducted experimental research that contrasts with the
belief that happy children are the best learners. The findings, which currently
appear online in the journal Developmental
Science and will be printed in the June issue, show that where attention
to detail is required, happy children may be at a disadvantage.
The researchers conducted a series of experiments with different child age
groups who had happy or sad moods induced with the aid of music (Mozart and
Mahler) and selected video clips (Jungle Book and the Lion King). The groups
were then asked to undertake a task that required attention to detail - to
observe a detailed image such as a house and a simple shape such as a triangle,
and then locate the shape within the larger picture. The findings in each
experiment with both music and video clips were conclusive, with the children
induced to feel a sad or neutral mood performing the task better than those
induced to feel a happy state of mind.
Lead researcher Simone Schnall of the University of Plymouth describes the
psychology behind the findings: "Happiness indicates that things are going
well, which leads to a global, top-down style of information processing. Sadness
indicates that something is amiss, triggering detail-orientated, analytical
processing.
"However, it is important to emphasize that existing research shows there
are contexts in which a positive mood is beneficial for a child, such as when a
task calls for creative thinking. But this particular research demonstrates that
when attention to detail is required, it may do more harm than good."
Co-author Vikram Jaswal, an assistant professor of psychology at the University
of Virginia, added that the findings contradict conventional wisdom that
happiness always leads to optimal outcomes. "The good feeling that
accompanies happiness comes at a hidden cost. It leads to a particular style of
thinking that is suited for some types of situations, but not others."
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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The research was funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation.
Source: Vikram Jaswal
University of
Virginia
Medical News Today: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com
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