MANIPULATION OF POSITIVE EMOTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON NEGATIVE OUTCOMES OF GAMBLING BEHAVIORS AND ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION: THE ROLE OF POSITIVE URGENCY

• Main Author: Cyders, Melissa A.
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2008
• Subjects: Impulsivity; Alcohol; Positive Affect; Risky Behavior; Gambling; Clinical Psychology; Psychology
• Online Access: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_diss/648; http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1651&context=gradschool_diss

The current pair of experimental studies sought to further validate the role of positive urgency (acting rashly when in an extreme positive emotional state) as a risk factor for impulsive and maladaptive behavior. Previous research has supported the use of emotion-based dispositions to rash action in predicting a wide range of maladaptive acts. However, that research relied on self-reported behavior, thus lacking (1) tight experimental controls and (2) direct observation of risky behaviors. In the two experimental studies described here, I found that, among college students, (1) previous cross-sectional relationships between risk and positive urgency were supported (n = 104), (2) positive urgency significantly predicted negative outcomes on a gambling task following a positive mood manipulation (n = 94), and (3) positive urgency significantly predicted increases in beer consumption following positive mood induction (n = 33). Positive urgency's role was above and beyond previously identified risk factors; these findings combined with prior cross-sectional and longitudinal field studies provide strong support for the role of positive urgency in rash action.