Responses to Success: Seeking Pleasant Experiences before a Task Is Complete?

ABSTRACT: Although engaging in pleasant experiences following successful performance may be hedonically rewarding, in the present research we proposed that individuals might forego pleasant experiences when they have not yet completed a task. In Study 1 (N = 100), participants reported the extent to which they would like to engage in pleasant experiences in a hypothetical situation where their performance outcome on a task (successful vs. average) and task completion (task in progress vs. completed) were manipulated. In Study 2 (N = 115), participants were in a real situation in which they achieved either a successful or average performance outcome. Task completion was manipulated (task in progress vs. completed) and motivation to engage in a pleasant experience was assessed by a behavioral measure.

SUBMITTER: Schall M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4546587 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature