Author's Department/Program
Psychology
Language
English (en)
Date of Award
January 2011
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Chair and Committee
Randy Larsen
Abstract
A growing body of research examines relationships between cognitive tendencies and a number of personality and affective: i.e. emotional) traits. While several mechanisms have been suggested to explain these links, the exact reasons for the observed effects remain unclear in a number of circumstances. The current research examines the potential underlying mechanisms of observed links between cognitive error reactivity and various components of the affect regulation process; those individuals who make errors in strings on standard cognitive tasks are higher in trait negative affect, react more strongly to negative daily events, and may show deficits in self-regulation ability: Compton, Robinson, Ode, Quandt, Fineman, & Carp, 2008). The current study tests whether observed links between cognitive error reactivity and affective traits/processes are due to affect reactivity: Larsen, & Ketelaar, 1989) or affect regulation ability: Hemenover, Augustine, Shulman, Tran, & Barlett, 2008). Participants completed measures of both personality and error reactivity and then underwent an anxiety induction followed by one of three affect regulation tasks. Results reveal that neither affect reactivity: i.e., reaction to the anxiety induction) nor affect regulation ability: i.e., affective change due to the regulation task) adequately explain links between error reactivity and personality. The implications of these findings for both personality and cognitive psychology are discussed.
Recommended Citation
Augustine, Adam, "Personal Cognition and the Affect Regulation Process: Affect Reactivity, Affect Regulation Ability, and Responses to Cognitive Errors." (2011). All Theses and Dissertations (ETDs). 26.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/etd/26
Comments
Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K7BP00XB