Savoring versus dampening: self-esteem differences in regulating positive affect.
Five studies examined the hypotheses that when people experience positive affect, those low in self-esteem are especially likely to dampen that affect, whereas those high in self-esteem are especially likely to savor it. Undergraduate participants' memories for a positive event (Study 1) and their reported reactions to a success (Study 2) supported the dampening prediction. Results also suggest that dampening was associated with worse mood the day after a success (Study 2), that positive and negative affect regulation are distinct, that self-esteem is associated with affect regulation even when Neuroticism and Extraversion are controlled (Studies 3 and 4), and that self-esteem may be especially important for certain types of positive events and positive affect regulation (Study 5).
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010552:Personality Assessment; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires