Self-Regulation Within the Application Process: Intra- and Interindividual Differences in Affect and Action Orientation

摘要

Applicants' experienced affect and its changes during the application process were investigated. Hypotheses were based on selfregulation- theory. Applicants' (N = 173) explicit and implicit affect were measured over a period of several weeks before and after typical tasks within a realistically simulated application process. Analyses were based on a two-factorial between-and within-subjects design with action control and application process as independent variables. Separate analyses show significant (p < .001) main effects of application process and action control on implicit and explicit affect. Action-oriented applicants show more positive (explicit) and less negative affect (implicit, explicit) than state-oriented applicants. Correlations between implicit and explicit negative affect before and after interviews did not differ from nondemanding conditions. Results support the view that applicants want to present themselves favorably but not that they intend to fake anything. The action control distinction influenced both implicitly and explicitly measured affect and affective self-presentation.