The future is now: prospective temporal self-appraisals among defensive pessimists and optimists.
Three studies found that prospective temporal self-appraisals can be part of defensive pessimists' strategy; they felt closer to equally distant negative than positive futures. In Study 1, defensive pessimists felt closer to future failures and reported more negative affect than those considering success. In Study 2, when manipulated negative futures were close, defensive pessimists felt bad and performed well; results suggested that viewing negative futures as close may be part of their natural strategy. Study 3 found that prospective self-appraisals influenced performances through felt preparation. Optimists did not use prospective self-appraisals (Study 1) and their performances were unaffected by manipulated temporal distance (Studies 2 and 3). Discussion centers on prospective self-appraisals and multiple strategies of defensive pessimists.
Sanna
Lawrence J
LJ
Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-3270, USA. sanna@unc.edu
Chang
Edward C
EC
Carter
Seth E
SE
Small
Eulena M
EM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D002605:Character; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D009341:Negativism; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012718:Set, Psychology