The influence of positive affect on avoidance motivation

Abstract

In recent research a link between negative affect and avoidance motivation has been found. Our research revealed that avoidance motivation does not necessarily originate from negative affect. In this study we combined avoiding of a neutral stimulus with positive affect through rewarding avoiding with the use of a subliminal prime. We found a similar strength of avoidance motivation in the conditioned negative stimuli as in the original negative stimuli. These results suggest that avoidance motivation van originate from both positive and negative affect.