Miller (1944) revisited: Movement times in relation to approach and avoidance conflicts

Three experiments (total N = 291) sought to provide support for the idea that avoidance conflicts, relative to approach conflicts, are more difficult to motorically resolve. Conflicts were instantiated by asking individuals to approach desirable stimuli and avoid undesirable stimuli under conditions in which there was no objectively-correct direction of movement. To control for baseline movement speeds, non-conflict trials presented desirable (e.g., reward) and undesirable (e.g., threat) stimuli in the absence of any spatial conflict. In addition, movement times were isolated through the use of a joystick movement paradigm in which movement speeds were quantified subsequent to some initial tendency to move in one direction or the other. Consistent with hypotheses, all experiments found that movement times were slowed in the context of avoidance conflicts relative to approach conflicts. Results are discussed in terms of theories of motivation, affective processing, conflict, and anxiety.

Research Highlights► Three experiments based upon Miller’s (1944) predictions pertaining to approach/avoidance conflicts. ► Experiment 1 provided partial support, however, the paradigm used was not adequate. ► Experiment 2 furnished stronger findings and employed a more adequate paradigm. ► Experiment 3 extended these findings from the abstract to the interpersonal realm. ► Results are discussed in terms of theories of motivation, affective processing, conflict, and anxiety.