The Unprobability of Anger Experience: A Test of an Extension of Affect Control Theory

• In Event: 606 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 09. Beliefs, Emotions and Memory

Abstract

The majority of work in the Affect Control Theory (ACT) tradition has relied upon vignette and experimental data. This paper utilizes the GSS emotional module from 1996 to test a proposition developed from the logic of ACT. Using data on occupations and anger experience at work, we hypothesize that those individuals who are in occupations that INTERACT indicates would experience larger amounts of deflection when anger is experienced should report less anger than those in occupations that INTERACT indicates should experience less deflection when anger is experienced. This hypothesis is not supported. Implications for ACT is discussed.

Authors

• Bridget K. Diamond-Welch, University of South Dakota

• Alicia D. Cast, University of California-Santa Barbara