Avoidance Goals for a Specific Social Situation Influence Activated Negative and Positive Affect

摘要

Anxiety disorder research may benefit from examining motivational factors, such as the difference between approach and avoidance goals. Self-regulation theories in particular suggest that affect serves as feedback for goal pursuit, with anxiety primarily providing feedback regarding avoidance. However, little information is available on participant goals for a specific task that generates social anxiety. In Study 1, we demonstrate that confidence regarding avoidance goals, importance ascribed to these goals, and the interaction between confidence and importance showed the most robust relationships with activated negative affect and positive affect ratings. In Study 2, we partially replicated the interactive effect but fully replicated the general finding of the importance of confidence in avoidance goals for both types of affect. Against hypothesis, ratings regarding avoidance goals were also more strongly related to positive affect. It appears likely that the various findings regarding cost and probability in the study of social anxiety disorder are related to these findings.