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The Influence of Affect on Goal Choice and Task Performance
Author(s) -
Davis Mark A.,
Kirby Susan L.,
Curtis Mary B.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.0021-9029.2007.00144.x
Subject(s) - mood , psychology , affect (linguistics) , task (project management) , set (abstract data type) , social psychology , cognitive psychology , computer science , communication , management , economics , programming language
The present study investigated the influence of mood on self‐set goals and task performance. Results from 2 studies suggest a restricted view of mood effects in which affective state influences the level of self‐set goals or task performance, but not both. Study 2 reveals asymmetrical mood effects on task performance, with positive‐ and negative‐mood participants exceeding the baseline performance of neutral mood participants. Evidence indicates that goal‐setting instructions may alter how individuals interpret motivational implications of mood. Although theory implies an inclusive view in which mood has both direct and indirect (through goal‐setting) performance effects, the conflicting influences of affect infusion at different points of the goal‐striving process may diminish the likelihood of observing inclusive effects.