Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Dispositional anger and the resolution of the approach-avoidance conflict
AU - Robinson, Michael D.
AU - Boyd, Ryan L.
AU - Persich, Michelle R.
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - The approach-avoidance conflict is one in which approaching reward brings increased threat while avoiding threat means forgoing reward. This conflict can be uniquely informative because it will be resolved in different ways depending on whether approach (toward) or avoidance (away from) is the stronger motive. Two studies (total N = 191) created a computerized version of this conflict and used the test to examine questions of motivational direction in anger. In Study 1, noise blast provocations increased the frequency of approach behaviors at high levels of trait anger, but decreased their frequency at low levels. In Study 2, a simpler version of the conflict test was used to predict anger in daily life. As hypothesized, greater approach frequencies in the test predicted greater anger reactivity to daily provocations and frustrations. The discussion focuses on the utility of the approach-avoidance conflict test and on questions of motivational direction in anger.
AB - The approach-avoidance conflict is one in which approaching reward brings increased threat while avoiding threat means forgoing reward. This conflict can be uniquely informative because it will be resolved in different ways depending on whether approach (toward) or avoidance (away from) is the stronger motive. Two studies (total N = 191) created a computerized version of this conflict and used the test to examine questions of motivational direction in anger. In Study 1, noise blast provocations increased the frequency of approach behaviors at high levels of trait anger, but decreased their frequency at low levels. In Study 2, a simpler version of the conflict test was used to predict anger in daily life. As hypothesized, greater approach frequencies in the test predicted greater anger reactivity to daily provocations and frustrations. The discussion focuses on the utility of the approach-avoidance conflict test and on questions of motivational direction in anger.
KW - Anger
KW - Approach
KW - Avoidance
KW - Conflict
KW - Motivation
U2 - 10.1037/emo0000189
DO - 10.1037/emo0000189
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 27078742
AN - SCOPUS:84962883611
VL - 16
SP - 838
EP - 849
JO - Emotion
JF - Emotion
SN - 1528-3542
IS - 6
ER -