The importance of perceived utility of emotion

To date, the vast majority of emotion research has been devoted to the role of felt affect. In contrast, relatively little is known regarding the role of other, potentially important emotion constructs (commonly referred to as “meta-emotion”). The present research examined the perceived utility of emotion, or the degree to which emotions are perceived to be useful in goal attainment. Due to the novelty of this construct, in four separate projects I examine: (a) the measurement of perceived utility of emotion and the stability of this construct across time and contexts (Projects 1-2); (b) the relation between perceived utility of emotion in attributions and behavioral intentions (Project 3); and (c) the potential importance of perceived utility of emotion in interpersonal sensitivity and depression (Project 4). Findings from the present research suggest that perceived utility of emotion plays a role in individual differences, including depression, even after taking into account felt affect.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Chow, Philip

Contributors dc:contributor

• Berenbaum, Howard
• Roberts, Brent W.
• Heller, Wendy
• Rudolph, Karen D.
• Chang, Hua-Hua

• emotion
• affect

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2015 Philip Chow

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/87953

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/87953