The Presence of a Weapon Shrinks the Functional Field of View

• Published in: Applied cognitive psychology Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 592 - 599
• Main Authors: Harada, Yuki, Hakoda, Yuji, Kuroki, Daiichiro, Mitsudo, Hiroyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.07.2015; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: Cognitive psychology; Emotions; Weapons
• ISSN: 0888-4080; 1099-0720
• DOI: 10.1002/acp.3143

Summary This study examined whether the functional field of view shrinks by the presence of a weapon or the increase of emotional arousal. In Experiment 1, participants viewed two types of pictures depicting scenes involving weapons or control objects and were asked to identify digits presented at the periphery when the pictures disappeared. The results showed that the presence of a weapon impaired identification of the peripheral digits, even when the pictures were equal with respect to emotional arousal level. In Experiment 2, participants viewed emotionally arousing pictures or neutral pictures, neither of which included weapons, and they were asked to identify digits presented at the periphery when the pictures disappeared. The results revealed that the increased emotional arousal did not impair identification of the peripheral digits. These results indicate that the functional field of view shrinks because of the presence of a weapon but not because of increased emotional arousal.Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.