Control and causation as factors in the affective value of positive events

Elin B. Strand; John W. Reich; Alex J. Zautra

doi:10.1007/s10608-006-9028-7

Control and causation as factors in the affective value of positive events

Elin B. Strand, John W. Reich, Alex J. Zautra

Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Positive events were differentiated according to their degree of categories of personal control and causation and were related to positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA), and to the degree of the PA-NA relationship. Arthritis patients and healthy controls were interviewed for 12-20 weeks on life events and PA and NA. Baseline measures on extraversion and neuroticism also were assessed as possible confounds in multilevel modeling tests of events and affect relationships. Results showed that positive controllable and internally caused events (PCI) and positive uncontrollable and externally caused events (PUE) were related to increased PA. PUE were related to increased NA, while PCI events were related to reduced NA. As predicted, there was a significant interaction of PCI events on the PA-NA relationship, relating to a reduced inverse correlation between the affects. The data suggest that causation of positive events is a significant factor in emotional complexity. Implications of the results are discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	503-519
Number of pages	17
Journal	Cognitive Therapy and Research
Volume	31
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-006-9028-7
State	Published - Aug 2007

Keywords

Causation
Control
Negative affect
Positive affect
Positive events

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Experimental and Cognitive Psychology
Clinical Psychology

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10.1007/s10608-006-9028-7

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title = "Control and causation as factors in the affective value of positive events",

abstract = "Positive events were differentiated according to their degree of categories of personal control and causation and were related to positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA), and to the degree of the PA-NA relationship. Arthritis patients and healthy controls were interviewed for 12-20 weeks on life events and PA and NA. Baseline measures on extraversion and neuroticism also were assessed as possible confounds in multilevel modeling tests of events and affect relationships. Results showed that positive controllable and internally caused events (PCI) and positive uncontrollable and externally caused events (PUE) were related to increased PA. PUE were related to increased NA, while PCI events were related to reduced NA. As predicted, there was a significant interaction of PCI events on the PA-NA relationship, relating to a reduced inverse correlation between the affects. The data suggest that causation of positive events is a significant factor in emotional complexity. Implications of the results are discussed.",

keywords = "Causation, Control, Negative affect, Positive affect, Positive events",

author = "Strand, {Elin B.} and Reich, {John W.} and Zautra, {Alex J.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work is sponsored by the Project of the National Key Basic Research Plan (Chinese “973” Plan) under Grant No. 2013CB228404 . ",

year = "2007",

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doi = "10.1007/s10608-006-9028-7",

language = "English (US)",

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pages = "503--519",

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T1 - Control and causation as factors in the affective value of positive events

AU - Strand, Elin B.

AU - Reich, John W.

AU - Zautra, Alex J.

N1 - Funding Information: This work is sponsored by the Project of the National Key Basic Research Plan (Chinese “973” Plan) under Grant No. 2013CB228404 .

PY - 2007/8

Y1 - 2007/8

N2 - Positive events were differentiated according to their degree of categories of personal control and causation and were related to positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA), and to the degree of the PA-NA relationship. Arthritis patients and healthy controls were interviewed for 12-20 weeks on life events and PA and NA. Baseline measures on extraversion and neuroticism also were assessed as possible confounds in multilevel modeling tests of events and affect relationships. Results showed that positive controllable and internally caused events (PCI) and positive uncontrollable and externally caused events (PUE) were related to increased PA. PUE were related to increased NA, while PCI events were related to reduced NA. As predicted, there was a significant interaction of PCI events on the PA-NA relationship, relating to a reduced inverse correlation between the affects. The data suggest that causation of positive events is a significant factor in emotional complexity. Implications of the results are discussed.

AB - Positive events were differentiated according to their degree of categories of personal control and causation and were related to positive affect (PA), and negative affect (NA), and to the degree of the PA-NA relationship. Arthritis patients and healthy controls were interviewed for 12-20 weeks on life events and PA and NA. Baseline measures on extraversion and neuroticism also were assessed as possible confounds in multilevel modeling tests of events and affect relationships. Results showed that positive controllable and internally caused events (PCI) and positive uncontrollable and externally caused events (PUE) were related to increased PA. PUE were related to increased NA, while PCI events were related to reduced NA. As predicted, there was a significant interaction of PCI events on the PA-NA relationship, relating to a reduced inverse correlation between the affects. The data suggest that causation of positive events is a significant factor in emotional complexity. Implications of the results are discussed.

KW - Causation

KW - Control

KW - Negative affect

KW - Positive affect

KW - Positive events

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JO - Cognitive Therapy and Research

JF - Cognitive Therapy and Research

IS - 4

ER -

Control and causation as factors in the affective value of positive events

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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