摘要：This study examined the effects of uncertainty and importance of a positive emotional event on the duration of emotion. We hypothesized that (i) uncertainty reduces the rate of decreasing emotional reaction by extending the duration of attention to the event, and (ii) importance increases the initial emotional reaction but does not reduce the decreasing rate. Ninety-two participants answered an ostensible ability test and received bogus positive feedback as emotional manipulation. Next, uncertainty and importance of feedback were manipulated across three conditions. Participants in the uncertain condition were told that the ability measured would be disclosed after the experiment. In the important/unimportant conditions, participants were instructed that an important/unimportant ability had been measured. Next, participants reported on their emotional state and performed a filler task for five minutes, after which they reported on their emotional state again. Results showed that participants in the uncertain and important conditions experienced more increased initial emotional reaction and longer duration of emotion than those in the unimportant condition. Although the effect of importance was consistent with the hypothesis, the effect of uncertainty was not.
关键词：Duration of emotion;positive emotions;uncertainty;importance
