Knowledge Bank

In a life where we are constantly faced with endless tasks to complete, is there a way for us to strategically choose tasks to increase our productivity? Previous research has shown that having alignment between our current motivational state and the type of task we are working on could enhance our overall task performance (Higgins, 2000). However, creating this alignment requires people to know what motivational states they are in – a process about which we know little. One possible way people determine this is by referencing their current emotional states, as different motivational states are uniquely associated with specific emotions (Schwarz, 2001). The present research explored people's lay beliefs about the motivational benefits of various emotions to see if people strategically select tasks based on their current emotional states. Participants recalled various memories to induce different emotional states and then were presented with eager and vigilant tasks. They then indicated their preferences for which task they would prefer to complete. Results revealed that people preferred different types of tasks based on what they were currently feeling. People preferred eager tasks when experiencing positive emotions (excitement and relaxed), and vigilant tasks when experiencing negative emotions (anxious and depressed). It appears that people believe that positive emotions enhance eagerness and negative emotions enhance vigilance, which is at odds with published research (Higgins et al., 1997). Given this tension, further exploration into the role of emotions as motivational input could help people make intentional choices that lead to greater personal achievements.