Be better or be merry: How mood affects self-control.
Abstract
In 6 studies, the authors tested whether the effect of mood on self-control success depends on a person's accessible goal. We propose that positive mood signals a person to adopt an accessible goal, whereas negative mood signals a person to reject an accessible goal; therefore, if a self-improvement goal is accessible, happy (vs. neutral or unhappy) people perform better on self-control tasks that further that goal. Conversely, if a mood management goal is accessible, happy people abstain from self-control tasks because the tasks are incompatible with this goal. This pattern receives consistent support across several self-control tasks, including donating to charity, demonstrating physical endurance, seeking negative feedback, and completing tests.
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Positive states are associated with increased self-control and motivation toward specific goals.
“Positive states are also associated with increased self-control and motivation toward specific goals [62].”
From Positive Psychological Interventions for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: Rationale, Theoretical Model, and Intervention Development (2015) · cites this paper as [62]
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- Authors
- Fishbach, A., & Labroo, A. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- ORCID
- Labroo, Aparna A.
- Venue
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
- Published
- 2007
- Volume
- 93
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 158-173
- ISSN
- 0022-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-1315
- OpenAlex
- W2132175441
- Cited by
- 225
- References
- 77
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 9 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 24 · 2014: 22 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
- FWCI
- 17.51
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Personality and Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ACR North American Advances
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Behavioral Health and Interventions
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
- Keywords
- mood, self-control, positive mood, negative mood, goal compatibility, charitable giving, physical endurance, task performance
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Affect, Female, Goals, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Social Control, Informal, Self Efficacy
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