Choice and avoidance of everyday situations and affect congruence: Two models of reciprocal interactionism

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Citation:

Emmons, R. A., Diener, E. D., & Larsen, R. J. (1986). Choice and avoidance of everyday situations and affect congruence: Two models of reciprocal interactionism. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(4), 815.

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Abstract:

Studied person–situation interactions using 2 models of reciprocal interactionism: the choice-of-situations model and the congruence-response model. 22 undergraduates were followed for a period of 30 days and were asked to record 20 situations they encountered, their positive and negative affects in each situation, and their daily mood. Support was found for both models of interactionism. Results show that in their everyday environment, Ss chose to spend time in certain situations and to avoid others and that these patterns were predictable from personality trait scores. The importance of distinguishing between chosen and imposed situations was demonstrated. Implications of the present findings for the person–situation debate and for personality and situational assessment are discussed.

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