Using and being used by categories. The case of negative evaluations and daily well-being.
Three studies involving 257 undergraduates examined whether a simple choice reaction time task could predict daily experiences of affect. Individuals who were fast to make negative evaluations experienced more negative affect and more somatic symptoms and were less satisfied with their lives, compared with individuals who were slow to make negative evaluations. A fourth study, involving 89 undergraduates, indicated that performance on the task was relatively unaffected by transitory mood states. The results support the idea that categorization provides a useful perspective on personality functioning.
Psychology Department, North Dakota State University, ND 58105, USA. michael.d.robinson@ndsu.nodak.edu
Michael D
MD
Robinson
Patrick T
PT
Vargas
Maya
M
Tamir
Emily C
EC
Solberg
D000339:Affect; D006801:Humans; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010551:Personality; D011930:Reaction Time; D012919:Social Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires