Spaghetti Plots & Causal Models

About

This page provides some additional material related to the discussion of Cuddy (2012), Carney, Cuddy, & Yap (2010), and Ranehill et al. (2015).

Presentation comments

Gilmore prefers plots that show both individual data and group trends.

measure <- c(1, .8, 1.2, 1.1, .7, .75, 1.1, 1, 1.15, 1.05, .75, .8)
time <- c(1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2)
group <- c('a', 'a', 'a', 'b', 'b', 'b', 'a', 'a', 'a', 'b', 'b', 'b')
sub_id <- c(1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
df <- data.frame(sub_id = sub_id, measure = measure, time = time, test_group = group)

library(ggplot2)
df |>
  ggplot() +
  aes(x = as.factor(time), y = measure, group = sub_id, color = test_group) +
  geom_point() +
  geom_line() +
  facet_grid(~ test_group) +
  xlab("Test occasion") +
  ylim(0, 1.5)

Exploring logical/causal diagrams

Causal diagrams are one tool to reveal an authors’ claims and assumptions.

flowchart LR
  A[Behaviors] -->B(Feelings)
  A -->C((Physiology))

Causal diagram for Carney et al. (2010)

flowchart TD
  A[Posing] -->B(Testosterone)
  A -->C(Cortisol)
  A -->D{Powerful feelings}
  A -->E[Risk tolerance]

A folk psychology view might hold that feelings cause behaviors.

flowchart TD
  D{Powerful feelings} -->A[Posing]
  D -->E[Risk tolerance]
  D -->|??|C(Cortisol)
  D -->|??|B(Testosterone)

Here, the role of feelings on endocrine measures might not be known or clear.

Neuroscientists would argue that feelings are the outcome of physiological processes like hormone levels and nervous system activity.

flowchart TD
  C(Cortisol) -->D{Powerful feelings}
  B(Testosterone) -->D
  F(Nervous system) -->D
  F --> A[Posing]
  F --> E[Risk tolerance]

And that physiological processes (hormones & nervous system activity) influence one another.

flowchart TD
  C(Cortisol) -->D{Powerful feelings}
  B(Testosterone) -->D
  F(Nervous system) -->D
  F --> A[Posing]
  F --> E[Risk tolerance]
  C <--> F
  B <--> F

Carney et al. (2010)

flowchart TD
  A[Posing] -->B(Testosterone)
  A -->C(Cortisol)
  A -->D{Powerful feelings}
  A -->E[Risk tolerance]

Ranehill et al. (2015)

flowchart TD
  A[Posing] -.-> B(Testosterone)
  A -.-> C(Cortisol)
  A ==> D{Powerful feelings}
  A -.-> E[Risk tolerance]

If the neuroscientific view is correct, there must be a route for behaviors (like posing) to influence feelings through physiology.

flowchart TD
  A[Posing] --> B(Nervous system) --> D{Feelings}
  B --> A

References

Carney, D. R., Cuddy, A. J. C., & Yap, A. J. (2010). Power posing: Brief nonverbal displays affect neuroendocrine levels and risk tolerance. Psychological Science, 21(10), 1363–1368. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797610383437

Cuddy, A. (2012). Your body language may shape who you are. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are

Ranehill, E., Dreber, A., Johannesson, M., Leiberg, S., Sul, S., & Weber, R. A. (2015). Assessing the robustness of power posing: No effect on hormones and risk tolerance in a large sample of men and women. Psychological Science, 26(5), 653–656. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614553946