Choices and affective reactions to negative life events

Abstract

Three experiments investigated individuals' preferences and affective reactions to negative life experiences. Participants had a more intense negative affective reaction when they were exposed to a highly negative life experience than when they were exposed to two negative events: a highly negative and a mildly negative life event. Participants also chose the situation containing two versus one negative event. Thus, ``more negative events were better'' when the events had different affective intensities. When participants were exposed to events having similar affective intensities, however, two negative events produced a more intense negative affective reaction. In addition, participants chose the situation having one versus two negative life experiences. Thus, ``more negative events were worse'' when the events had similar affective intensities. These results are consistent with an averaging/summation (A/S) model and delineate situations when ``more'' negative life events are ``better'' and when ``more'' negative life events are ``worse.'' Results also ruled out several alternative interpretations including the peak-end rule and mental accounting interpretations. % check keywords

Keywords

• decisions
• averaging
• summation
• affect
• negative events
• peak-endrule
• mental accounting.