Fear During Pandemic Promoted Holistic Cognitive Style: The Moderating Role of Uncertainty

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2023

Abstract

The present study explored the link between fear and holistic cognitive style and the moderating role of uncertainty. We examined these effects in a real-life situation: the long-term, global COVID-19 pandemic, which provided a natural context of fear and uncertainty. The current study comprises three studies recruiting N = 1,310 participants. Study 1 compared the link between fear and holistic style in the United States (a relatively uncertain situation presented by the COVID-19 pandemic) and China (a pandemic situation with relative certainty) in the early days of the pandemic. Study 2 examined the moderation effect of uncertainty in the relationship between fear and holistic style by manipulating participants into a fearful (vs. control) condition. Study 3 employed a longitudinal design to demonstrate the effect of fear-related emotions on holistic style change over a 3-month period. Across three studies, the moderation effect of uncertainty in the relationship between fear-related emotions and holistic style during the COVID-19 pandemic was consistently observed. In sum, this study provided an ecological and explanatory mechanism for understanding the impact of individuals’ fear on holistic cognitive style

Publication Title

Emotion

DOI

10.1037/emo0001207

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