Document Detail


Anticipating one's troubles: the costs and benefits of negative expectations.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19348540     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Although negative expectations may have the benefit of softening the blow when a negative event occurs, they also have the cost of making people feel worse while they are waiting for that event to happen. Three studies suggest that the cost of negative expectations is greater than the benefit. In 2 laboratory experiments and a field study, people felt worse when they were expecting a negative than a positive event; but once the event occurred, their prior expectations had no measurable influence on how they felt. These results suggest that anticipating one's troubles may be a poor strategy for maximizing positive affect.
Authors:
Sarit A Golub; Daniel T Gilbert; Timothy D Wilson
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Emotion (Washington, D.C.)     Volume:  9     ISSN:  1528-3542     ISO Abbreviation:  Emotion     Publication Date:  2009 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-04-07     Completed Date:  2009-06-16     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101125678     Medline TA:  Emotion     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  277-81     Citation Subset:  IM    
Copyright Information:
(c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved.
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Hunter College, CUNY, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adaptation, Psychological*
Affect*
Attitude*
Emotions
Female
Humans
Male
Massachusetts
Regression Analysis

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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