High Lexical Construal Levels Decrease Negativity Bias in Online Reading: Evidence from Recognition and Eye-tracking Experiments

Negativity bias in online reading widely occurs and leads to harmful results at the individual and social levels, but few studies have examined how to reduce this negativity bias from the perspective of negative words. This study aimed to examine whether and how high lexical construal levels decrease negativity bias in online reading via a recognition memory experiment and an eye-tracking experiment. In Study 1, a total of 70 participants (36 females) finished the recognition memory experiment. The results revealed the existence of negative memory bias in online reading and that high lexical construal levels decreased this bias by decreasing the sensitivity and decision criteria of negative words. In Study 2, a total of 53 participants (36 females) finished the eye-tracking experiment. The results indicated that at low lexical construal levels, participants allocated more cognitive resources to positive words, while at high lexical construal levels, the allocation of cognitive resources to negative and positive words was balanced. These findings highlight the possible mechanism by which high lexical construal levels decrease negativity bias in online reading.