Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, approach-affect and avoidance-affect

Peter B. Warr; Israel Sánchez-Cardona; Stanimira K. Taneva; Maria Vera; Uta K. Bindl; Eva Cifre

doi:10.1080/02699931.2020.1855119

Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, approach-affect and avoidance-affect

Peter B. Warr^*, Israel Sánchez-Cardona, Stanimira K. Taneva, Maria Vera, Uta K. Bindl, Eva Cifre

^*Corresponding author for this work

Human Resource Management

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

7 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

This paper brings together Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and other perspectives on wellbeing to test predictions about dimensions of affect which are linked to approach motivation or avoidance motivation. Valence and activation are jointly conceptualised as either approach-affect or avoidance-affect through the diagonal axes of an affective circumplex. Across four studies in three different countries, predictions about Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory’s Behavioural Activation System, Behavioural Inhibition System and Fight-Flight-Freeze System are found to be supported. Correlations with external variables are shown to depend on a wellbeing measure’s emphasis on approach or avoidance, such that affect and external features which both emphasise motivation to approach or to avoid yield substantially larger intercorrelations than do non-concordant pairs. In addition, joining valence with activation is shown to yield correlational benefits as predicted. Implications of our perspective and operationalisation are reviewed, and specific research recommendations are made.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	619-635
Number of pages	17
Journal	Cognition and Emotion
Volume	35
Issue number	4
Early online date	19 Jan 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2020.1855119
Publication status	Published - 2021

Keywords

activation
Approach
avoidance
Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory
valence
wellbeing

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abstract = "This paper brings together Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and other perspectives on wellbeing to test predictions about dimensions of affect which are linked to approach motivation or avoidance motivation. Valence and activation are jointly conceptualised as either approach-affect or avoidance-affect through the diagonal axes of an affective circumplex. Across four studies in three different countries, predictions about Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory{\textquoteright}s Behavioural Activation System, Behavioural Inhibition System and Fight-Flight-Freeze System are found to be supported. Correlations with external variables are shown to depend on a wellbeing measure{\textquoteright}s emphasis on approach or avoidance, such that affect and external features which both emphasise motivation to approach or to avoid yield substantially larger intercorrelations than do non-concordant pairs. In addition, joining valence with activation is shown to yield correlational benefits as predicted. Implications of our perspective and operationalisation are reviewed, and specific research recommendations are made.",

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note = "Funding Information: *The empirical data for Study 1 were collected in the context of a 2-year fellowship awarded to S. K. Taneva and funded by the European Commission under its Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship scheme. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Cifre, Eva

N1 - Funding Information: *The empirical data for Study 1 were collected in the context of a 2-year fellowship awarded to S. K. Taneva and funded by the European Commission under its Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship scheme. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group. Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - This paper brings together Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and other perspectives on wellbeing to test predictions about dimensions of affect which are linked to approach motivation or avoidance motivation. Valence and activation are jointly conceptualised as either approach-affect or avoidance-affect through the diagonal axes of an affective circumplex. Across four studies in three different countries, predictions about Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory’s Behavioural Activation System, Behavioural Inhibition System and Fight-Flight-Freeze System are found to be supported. Correlations with external variables are shown to depend on a wellbeing measure’s emphasis on approach or avoidance, such that affect and external features which both emphasise motivation to approach or to avoid yield substantially larger intercorrelations than do non-concordant pairs. In addition, joining valence with activation is shown to yield correlational benefits as predicted. Implications of our perspective and operationalisation are reviewed, and specific research recommendations are made.

AB - This paper brings together Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory and other perspectives on wellbeing to test predictions about dimensions of affect which are linked to approach motivation or avoidance motivation. Valence and activation are jointly conceptualised as either approach-affect or avoidance-affect through the diagonal axes of an affective circumplex. Across four studies in three different countries, predictions about Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory’s Behavioural Activation System, Behavioural Inhibition System and Fight-Flight-Freeze System are found to be supported. Correlations with external variables are shown to depend on a wellbeing measure’s emphasis on approach or avoidance, such that affect and external features which both emphasise motivation to approach or to avoid yield substantially larger intercorrelations than do non-concordant pairs. In addition, joining valence with activation is shown to yield correlational benefits as predicted. Implications of our perspective and operationalisation are reviewed, and specific research recommendations are made.

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Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, approach-affect and avoidance-affect

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