The effect of induced social interaction on positive and negative affect

Abstract

The effects of two induced social interactions (Getting Acquainted and Lunching Together) on positive affect (PA) and negative affect (NA) were investigated with the use of the 20-item positive and negative affect schedule (PANAS). In two experiments, undergraduate subjects completed two cycles of 9 PANASs. Each cycle contained three sets of three PANASs, which were completed during successive class periods: One set each was completed during the class period preceding, including, and following the social interaction. Within each set of three PANASs, one was completed at the beginning of a 2-h class, a second was completed 1 h into the class (before the social interaction), and a third was completed at the end of class (after the social interaction). One of the two 9-assessment cycles involved getting acquainted with a previously unknown classmate for 20 min; the other involved having lunch with this classmate 2 weeks later. The resulting PA and NA scores were compared separately for each social interaction by using within-subjects analyses of variance and subsequent multiple-comparison tests. These analyses revealed that PA increased significantly after social interaction and returned to normal by the beginning of the next class period and that NA was not changed by social interaction. The implications of these results are discussed.