Behavioral activation and inhibition in everyday life

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Affective Science
• Individual Differences

Background:

• Daily events significantly influence positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA).
• Individual differences in dispositional sensitivities to reward and punishment cues play a role in emotional experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the joint effects of daily events and dispositional sensitivities on daily PA and NA.
• To investigate how the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) moderate the relationship between daily events and affect.

Main Methods:

• Three diary studies were conducted to collect daily event and affect data.
• Dispositional sensitivities to appetitive (BAS) and aversive (BIS) motivational systems were assessed.
• Moderation analyses were used to examine the interaction between daily events and dispositional sensitivities.

Main Results:

• Positive events were linked to PA, and negative events to NA.
• Higher BAS sensitivity was associated with greater average PA.
• Higher BIS sensitivity was associated with greater average NA and magnified reactions to negative events.
• BAS sensitivity predisposed individuals to experience more positive events.

Conclusions:

• Distinguishing between-person and within-person effects is crucial for understanding affect.
• Dispositional sensitivities (BAS and BIS) independently influence affect through distinct processes.
• Individual differences in motivational system sensitivity significantly modulate emotional responses to daily life events.