Research indicates that negative emotions generally:

• A. Broaden an individual's thought-action repertoire and encourage creative thinking
• B. Narrow an individual's attention and focus on specific threats or problems
• C. Increase physiological arousal but do not affect attention or cognition
• D. Have no significant impact on cognitive processes or attention

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of how emotions influence cognitive processes, particularly attention and thought patterns.
2. Recall that negative emotions, such as fear or anxiety, typically trigger an evolutionary adaptive response aimed at survival.
3. Recognize that this response involves narrowing attention to focus on specific threats or problems, which helps in quick decision-making and action.
4. Contrast this with positive emotions, which are known to broaden an individual's thought-action repertoire and encourage creative thinking.
5. Conclude that negative emotions generally narrow an individual's attention and focus on specific threats or problems, rather than broadening cognition or having no effect.