Cognition and affect in imagined and recalled scenarios as a function of a specificity manipulation: An experience sampling study

Previous work has examined the effect of specificity and temporal focus (i.e., memory vs. imagination) on people's cognition and associated affect. Here, using experience sampling methods, we take these previously addressed questions out of the laboratory into daily-life settings. Participants (N = 228) were randomly assigned to a specificity or control condition, and recorded imagined or recalled scenarios twice a day for 1 week. Results revealed a main effect of specificity where specificity prompts resulted in written scenarios that were rated by independent judges as more creative, more positive, less negative, more coherent, and incorporated more sensory content. Specificity had few direct influences on affect, though an interaction showed that imagined scenarios with specificity prompts resulted in reduced self-reported anxiety. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Automated summary

Previous research has investigated the influence of specificity and temporal focus on cognition and affect. This study aimed to explore these questions in daily-life settings using experience sampling methods. The results showed that specificity prompts led to more creative, positive, coherent, and sensory-rich scenarios. However, specificity had minimal direct effects on affect, except for reduced self-reported anxiety in imagined scenarios. Implications and future directions are discussed.