This study was conducted to test a theoretical framework integrating the complex literatures on affect and decision processes with theory and research on the dispositional trait, negative affectivity (NA). Previous research has shown that positive mood affects some cognitive processes, including decision making (e.g., Isen & Means, 1983). However, the relationship between negative moods and cognitive processes appears less clear (e.g., Isen, Shalker, Clark, & Karp, 1978; Isen & Daubman, 1984) It was hypothesized that persons high on negative affectivity (NA), a pervasive dispositional trait manifested by self-doubt, anxiety, and worry, would tend to expend more effort but possibly be less efficient than persons low on NA at processing information on a multiattribute decision task. This proposition was based on the work of M. W. Eysenck (1979, 1982, 1985), who contended high NA individuals tend to overprocess information, particularly while experiencing anxious states. Because it is known that high NA persons experience negative moods more frequently than low NAs (e.g., Costa & McCrae, 1980), and because negative moods increase the likelihood they will experience self-doubt and anxiety, it was predicted that if high NA individuals do in fact expend more effort or process information less efficiently than lows, those differences would be maximized while persons are in bad moods. To test the proposition that NA and mood would interact such that high NAs in negative affective states would make decisions differently than low NAs, half the subjects in this study were randomly assigned to a negative mood induction and the other half to a control condition. All subjects then performed a computer-based multiattribute job choice decision task. Findings did not support the study hypotheses; and, in fact, shed doubt on the proposition that NA in fact influences behavior directly. Implications for Eysenck's theory and practical considerations of these findings are discussed / acase@tulane.edu
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:TULANE/oai:http://digitallibrary.tulane.edu/:tulane_26760 |
| Date | January 1992 |
| Contributors | Butcher, Ann Houston (Author), O'Neal, Edgar C (Thesis advisor) |
| Publisher | Tulane University |
| Source Sets | Tulane University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | Access requires a license to the Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) database., Copyright is in accordance with U.S. Copyright law |
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