Is The Metaphor Congruency Effects Based On The Conceptual Metaphor Theory Or Polarity Theory

This study used two experimental paradigms and six experiments,explored the theory of the vertical spatial metaphor of moral concept,valence concept and power concept.The interference effect of conceptual metaphor theory explained that there are associations between vertical locations and word meaning,When a stimulus is presented on a perceptual location that is associated with the meaning of the stimulus(e.g.,UP for positive words),responses are facilitated,whereas incongruent perceptual information is argued to interfere with the correct categorization of words(e.g.,DOWN for positive words).Polarity theory proposed that the metaphor congruency effects is due to the structural overlap between perceived and abstract dimensions,rather than the metaphorical connection between them.In addition,polarity explains that the processing benefit of the +polar also affects the pattern of reaction time.Therefore,this study is aimed to explore which of these two theories can provide a more perfect explanation for the metaphor congruency effects.Experiment 1a used the space Stroop paradigm of the uniform of vertical locations and word meaning to investigate the vertical spatial metaphor of moral concepts,the results showed that it does not conform to the interpretation of interference,nor is it consistent with the interpretation of polarity.Experiment 1b used guided paradigm to study the vertical spatial metaphor of moral concepts.The results showed that it was in line with interference interpretation,but partly consistent with polarity interpretation.Experiment 2a used the space Stroop paradigm of the uniform of vertical locations and word meaning to investigate the vertical spatial metaphor of valence concepts.The results are found to be inconsistent with the interpretation of interference but in conformity with the polarity interpretation.Experiment 2b used guided paradigm to study the vertical spatial metaphor of valence concepts.The results showed that it was in line with interference interpretation,but partly consistent with polarity interpretation.Experiment 3a used the space Stroop paradigm of the uniform of verticallocations and word meaning to investigate the vertical spatial metaphor of power concepts,the results showed that it does not conform to the interpretation of interference,nor is it consistent with the interpretation of polarity.Experiment 3b used guided paradigm to study the vertical spatial metaphor of power concepts.The results showed that it was in line with interference interpretation,but partly consistent with polarity interpretation.To sum up,a consistent conclusion can not be obtained by the space Stroop paradigm of the uniform of vertical locations and word meaning,so there are some problems in the polarity theory based on this paradigm.In the guiding paradigm,the results not only in line with interference interpretation,but partly consistent with polarity interpretation.It shows that there is not structural overlap in polarities but a association between vertical locations and word meaning.It also shows that the+polar processing benefit proposed by polarity interpretation plays a complementary role in the interpretation of interference.Therefore,when discussing the reaction pattern of the metaphor congruency effects,the +polar processing benefit and the association between vertical locations and word meaning play a role together.