Knowing good from bad: the paradox of neuroticism, negative affect, and evaluative processing.
There are pragmatic benefits to trait-consistent mood states, especially when people are evaluating new objects within the environment (M. Tamir, M. D. Robinson, & G. L. Clore, 2002). The present studies, involving both naturally occurring (Studies 1 and 2) and manipulated (Study 3) mood states, demonstrated such trait-consistent interactions within the context of neuroticism and negative mood states. Individuals high in neuroticism were faster to make evaluations when in a negative mood state like sadness. By contrast, individuals low in neuroticism were faster to make evaluations when in a neutral mood state. The present studies demonstrate that although negative mood states are hedonically unpleasant, they can be beneficial in some ways for individuals high in neuroticism.
Tamir
Maya
M
Psychology Department, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign, IL, USA. mtamir@psych.stanford.edu
Robinson
Michael D
MD
D000339:Affect; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011930:Reaction Time; D012919:Social Behavior; D012938:Social Perception