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Does It Make You Happy Feeling This Way? A Core Affect Account of Preference for Current Mood

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Abstract

Two experiments were conducted to investigate whether and how preference for current mood is related to the valence and activation dimensions of core affect. In Study 1, 100 undergraduates rated valence and activation of their naturally occurring current mood and preference for this mood. In Study 2, another 90 undergraduates performed the same ratings for various induced moods. The results showed as expected that preference for current mood is related to both valence and activation. Whereas the relation to valence is direct, the relation to activation is invertedly U-shaped with a maximum that increases with valence.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Göteborg University, Box 500, SE-40530, Göteborg, Sweden

    Daniel Västfjäll & Tommy Gärling

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  1. Daniel Västfjäll
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  2. Tommy Gärling
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  3. Mendel Kleiner
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Correspondence to Tommy Gärling.

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Västfjäll, D., Gärling, T. & Kleiner, M. Does It Make You Happy Feeling This Way? A Core Affect Account of Preference for Current Mood. Journal of Happiness Studies 2, 337–354 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013934417046

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