Individual differences in core affect variability and their relationship to personality and psychological adjustment

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Affective Science
• Individual Differences

Background:

• Human emotions fluctuate over time, forming trajectories in a core affect space (valence and activation).
• Understanding individual differences in these affective trajectories (affective variability) is crucial for psychological well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze individual differences in within-person affective variability.
• To introduce novel conceptualizations of affective variability.
• To examine the relationship between affective variability and personality traits.

Main Methods:

• Two studies collected multiple self-report data points on core affect over time.
• Derived characteristics of core affect trajectories, including 'spin' (qualitative feeling diversity).
• Correlated variability measures with trait measures (e.g., personality, self-esteem, depression).

Main Results:

• Affective variability was negatively related to average valence, self-esteem, and agreeableness.
• Affective variability was positively related to neuroticism and depression.
• 'Spin' showed more consistent relations to adjustment and personality than other variability measures.

Conclusions:

• Affective variability is a meaningful individual difference.
• Specific patterns of affective change are linked to psychological adjustment and personality traits.
• 'Spin' offers a promising measure for understanding affective dynamics and their relation to well-being.