Emotion-Performance Relationships in the Acquisition and Adaptation of a Complex Skill: Are Relationships Dynamic and Dependent on Activation Potential?. Issue 1 (1st January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jorgensen, Ashley; Day, Eric Anthony; Huck, Jonathan T.; Westlin, Joseph; Richels, Kelsey; Nguyen, Chris
• Is Part Of: Human performance. Volume 34:Issue 1(2021)
• Page Start: 25
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2021-01-01
• Subjects: Performance -- Periodicals; Psychology, Industrial -- Periodicals; 158.7
• DOI: 10.1080/08959285.2020.1823985
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0895-9285

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Although the importance of emotions to self-regulation has been noted in the extant literature, little empirical research has examined how fluctuations across a range of emotions are related to performance. Accordingly, this laboratory study of 214 undergraduates (58% male) learning a complex videogame examined the dynamics of within-person emotion–performance relationships during skill acquisition and adaptation. We observed the direction of relationships was consistent with the valence of emotions at both the within- and between-person levels. In addition, we observed dynamic relationships and an interplay between valence and activation potential. Dynamic relationships were observed for negative but not positive emotions. Activation potential made a difference for positive but not negative emotions. Implications for emotion control strategies in complex task learning are discussed.