Be better or be merry: how mood affects self-control.
In 6 studies, the authors tested whether the effect of mood on self-control success depends on a person's accessible goal. We propose that positive mood signals a person to adopt an accessible goal, whereas negative mood signals a person to reject an accessible goal; therefore, if a self-improvement goal is accessible, happy (vs. neutral or unhappy) people perform better on self-control tasks that further that goal. Conversely, if a mood management goal is accessible, happy people abstain from self-control tasks because the tasks are incompatible with this goal. This pattern receives consistent support across several self-control tasks, including donating to charity, demonstrating physical endurance, seeking negative feedback, and completing tests.
Fishbach
Ayelet
A
Graduate School of Business, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. ayelet.fishbach@chicagogsb.edu
Labroo
Aparna A
AA
D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires