Affect intensity and self-control of emotional behaviour

Abstract

Recent research has shown that individuals differ in dispositional levels of affect intensity. The present study investigated individual differences in affect intensity and self-control beliefs, including the perceived self-control of emotional behaviour. A sample of 97 Ss (35 males and 62 females) completed the Affect Intensity Measure and various measures tapping perceptions of self-control, including the Social Skills Inventory, the Self-Control Scale, and the Physiological Self-Control Scale. Correlational analyses revealed that affect intensity was negatively correlated with perceived emotional self-control but it was not correlated significantly with generalized self-control, physiological self-control, or social control. Although affect intensity was not related to social control, affect intensity was associated positively with greater social expressiveness and social sensitivity. The implications of the current findings are discussed.