Behavioral Activation/Inhibition Systems and Discrete Emotions: A Test of Valence vs. Action Tendency Hypotheses.

Using 16 television PSAs and with a 2 (valence) by 2 (action tendency) design, an experiment (N=245) examined the impact of behavioral inhibition/approach systems (BIS/BAS) on affect. Two hypotheses (valence vs. action tendency) derived from the nature of emotions and properties of BIS/BAS were derived and tested against each other. The results from two-level tobit models showed that BIS and BAS showed a complex pattern of associations with emotions that was not wholly consistent with either the approach-avoidance or valence aspects of affect; and that surprise might be joint product of novelty and valence assessments. Implications and implications for future research were discussed. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]