Lawrence, J. W., Carver, C. S., & Scheier, M. F. (2002). Velocity toward goal attainment in immediate experience as a determinant of affect. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 32, 788-802.
An experiment tested a model in which affect reflects rate of
movement
(velocity) toward one’s behavioral goal. Participants responded
to
an ambiguous task and received false feedback regarding their
performance.
The pattern of feedback either remained fairly constant at 50% correct,
went from low incidence of correct to 50% correct across trials, or
went
from high incidence of correct to 50% correct across trials.
Self-reported
mood change—from before the task to the point at which all groups
received
50% correct—took the following pattern: Subjects moving from
frequent
correct to 50% correct (low velocity) changed to less positive mood,
whereas
those moving from infrequent correct to 50% correct (high velocity)
tended
to change to more positive mood. Discussion centers on
convergence
between these findings and those of previous research.
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