The dynamics of personality states, goals, and well-being.
The authors examine the within-individual dynamics of Big-5 personality states over time in people's daily lives. They focus on the magnitude of this within-individual variability, and the associations between personality states, short-term goals, and subjective well-being states. A total of 101 undergraduate students participated in a 10-day interval-contingent diary study. The authors' findings, based on multilevel procedures, establish a considerable amount of within-individual variability that is both (a) equal or larger than that observed between individuals and (b) larger or similar to other constructs assessed with a state approach (e.g., self-esteem and mood). In addition, both neuroticism and extraversion states are systematically related to the short-term pursuit of approach-avoidance goals. Finally, support was obtained for the mediating role of both neuroticism and extraversion states of the association between goals and subjective well-being. In sum, the authors' findings testify to the importance and utility of studying within-individual variability in personality states over time.
Heller
Daniel
D
University of Waterloo. dheller@post.tau.ac.il
Komar
Jennifer
J
Lee
Wonkyong Beth
WB
D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005120:Extraversion, Psychological; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D010551:Personality; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology