Frogs’ Legs versus Roast Beef: How Culture can Influence Mind-Wandering Experiences across the Life Span. Martinon Léa M. , Smallwood J., Hamilton C., Riby L.M. Oral presentation Journée de printemps de la SNLF, Grenoble, France. June 2nd, 2017

Mind-Wandering Your attention is decoupled from the external world and instead focuses on internal thoughts and feelings (Smallwood & Schooler, 2006) Daydreaming, task-unrelated thought, self-generated thoughts 30 to 50% of our mental life (Killingsworth & Gilbert, 2010) Outcomes Poor performance (Mrazek et al., 2012) Autobiographical planning (Baird et al., 2011) Creativity (Baird et al., 2012) Content Future (D’Argembeau et al., 2011) Self (Smallwood et al., 2011) Individual differences Less in aging (Jackson & Balota, 2012) More in mild depression (Smallwood et al. 2005) Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

Culture Evidenced in many cultures (UK, Germany, USA, China, Belgium) Only one study investigated cultural differences More daydreaming for African-American and Jewish populations Less daydreaming for British (Singer & McCraven, 1961) Self Culture induces different construal of the self, defining and influencing individual experiences (Markus & Kitayama 1991) Language shapes cognitive processes and organize thoughts (Vygotsky, 1962). Here, we investigated two geographically close countries France and UK Clear cultural difference Different language spoken Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

This study Aim Participants Investigating age and cultural differences in mind-wandering experience. Participants English French Mean SD N Young (18-35) 21.58 4.45 193 22.95 3.87 122 Middle-age (36-54) 44.18 4.14 50 46.62 5.78 34 Old (55 and +) 66.19 7.31 26 65.32 7.11 31 Total 30.09 15.43 269 34.28 17.22 187 Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

This study – Measures Mind-wandering frequency (DDFS; Giambra, 1993) ‘I lose myself in active daydreaming’ (1) Infrequently, (2) Once a week, (3) Once a day, (4) A few times during the day (5) Many different times during the day. Self attentiveness (RRQ; Trapnell & Campbell, 1999) Rumination: ‘My attention is often focused on aspects of myself I wish I'd stop thinking about’ Reflection: ‘I'm very self-inquisitive by nature’ Mood (PANAS; Watson, 1988) ‘distressed’ or ‘excited’ Mindfulness (MAAS; Brown & Ryan, 2003) ‘I rush through activities without being really attentive to them’ Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

This study – Measures Future thinking (FST; McElwee & Haugh, 2010) Clarity: ‘My future seems vague and uncertain to me’ Frequency: ‘Thinking too much about what lies ahead in my life seems to be a waste of time’. Cognitive abilities (CFQ; Broadbent et al. 1982) ‘Do you fail to notice signposts on the road?’ Depressive symptoms (BDI–II; Beck et al. 1996) ‘Past failure’ (0) I do not feel like a failure, (1) I have failed more than I should have, (2) As I look back, I see a lot of failures (3) I feel I am a total failure as a person. Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

1st finding – Mind-Wandering *** *** English speakers 3.48 (.72) 3.53 (.67) 2.74 (.77) French speakers 3.71 (.70) 3.18 (.90) 3.05 (.84) Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

2nd finding – Self-Attentiveness Rumination Reflection *** * * * English speakers 3.83 (.72) 3.41 (.87) 2.95 (.84) 3.15 (.73) 3.45 (.71) 3.04 (.73) French 3.43 (.87) 3.14 (.93) 3.25 (.63) 3.71 (.81) 3.54 (.78) 3.55 (.69) Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

3rd finding - Mood Other findings Positive affects Negative affects PANAS *** English speakers 2.56 (.76) 1.76 (.81) 2.16 (.56) French speakers 2.93 (.73) 1.91 (.81) 2.42 (.54) Other findings Mindfulness increases with age, for both populations Future-self thoughts frequency decreases with age, for both populations Depressive symptoms decreases with age, for both populations No age or culture effect on cognitive failures. Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

Interpretations Cultural difference in the age-related decrease of mind-wandering frequency. Difficult to interpret without looking at the content of the thoughts Rumination rates are higher for young British. Tuition fees,£9000 Vs. 500€. More financial difficulties for UK students, linked to depression (Andrews & Wilding, 2004). Reflection higher in French, and middle aged British. Major life reassessment often occur at midlife (Demo, 1992). High rates of professional reconversion in France. French speakers may have better coping strategies (express more their emotions), compared to English speakers that tend keep things for themselves. Heighten mood for French compared to British. British citizens tend not to be overly demonstrative (Khor & March, 2007). Not the case for French speakers. Example: high number of strikes. Major life reassessment often occur at midlife (Demo, 1992) kids are teenagers, parents death or difficulties… Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

Conclusions Cultural differences between French and English speakers clearly impact mind-wandering experience. Warning about overgeneralizations of this cognitive process to every culture. Yes, it is experienced by various populations. No, their experience may not be the same. Stress the importance of evaluating cultural affiliation during participant recruitment as this may influence the results. Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France

Thank you. Léa Martinon - SNLF 2017, Grenoble, France