Challenging assignments and activating mood: the influence of goal orientation

Preenen, Paul T. Y.; Van Vianen, Annelies E. M.; De Pater, Irene E.

doi:10.1111/jasp.12256

Cited by 20Education, Achievement, and GiftednessMotivation and Self-Concept in SportsGrit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation

Challenging assignments and activating mood: the influence of goal orientation

Preenen, Paul T. Y., Van Vianen, Annelies E. M., De Pater, Irene E.·2014·Journal of Applied Social Psychology

DOI 10.1111/jasp.12256

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Abstract

We examined the impact of induced goal orientation on individuals' positive‐ and negative‐activating mood when taking part in high‐ or low‐challenging assignments. Results indicated that performing a low‐challenging assignment leads to a higher positive‐activating mood with a performance‐approach orientation than with a mastery approach, or no goal orientation. In contrast, conducting a high‐challenging assignment leads to a higher positive‐activating mood with a mastery approach than with a performance approach, or no goal orientation. These findings suggest that high‐challenging assignments are best instructed with a focus on learning whereas low‐challenging assignments are best instructed with a focus on superior performance.

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From Work hard or play hard: the effect of leisure crafting on opportunity recognition and venture performance (2023) · cites this paper as Preenen et al., 2014

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Authors: Preenen, P. T. Y., Van Vianen, A. E. M., & De Pater, I. E.
Affiliations: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (NL)
University of Amsterdam
National University of Singapore
Corresponding author: Preenen, Paul T. Y.
ORCID: Preenen, Paul T. Y.
Venue: Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Publisher: Wiley
Published: 2014-05-20
Volume: 44
Issue: 10
Pages: 650-659
ISSN: 0021-9029 (ISSN-L)
1559-1816
DOI: 10.1111/jasp.12256
OpenAlex: W2141585778
Cited by: 20
References: 58
Citations by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1
FWCI: 4.17
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations: Journal of Applied Social Psychology (publishedVersion)
UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (publishedVersion)
National University of Singapore (submittedVersion)
UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion)
TNO Repository (submittedVersion)
Repository hosted by TU Delft Library (TU Delft) (submittedVersion)
Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
Funders: Dutch Society of Psycho-technology
TNO's Behaviour and Performance Enabling Technology Program (ETP) 2013
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Education, Achievement, and Giftedness
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation
Keywords: goal orientation, task challenge, positive affect, negative affect, performance-approach goals, mastery orientation, task difficulty, mood induction

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Challenging assignments and activating mood: the influence of goal orientation

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