Hope, expectancy, and reactions to the unexpected.

Results allowed the inference that not only is the magnitude of an expectancy-event discrepancy an important determinant of behavior but that other factors, such as directionality of the discrepancy, personality of the recipient and perceived credibility of the source of the deviant input are also of significance.

Abstract

Abstract : Using a scale of 15 characteristics, 79 Ss rated themselves, rated another person, indicated how they both hoped and expected to be rated by the other and completed a scale on self-esteem. Following exposure to fictitious ratings from the other person that deviated from their own expectancy by either .5 inch toward hope, .5 inch away from hope, 1.5 inches toward hope or 1.5 inches away from hope, Ss repeated the above ratings and in addition completed a three-item scale concerned with feelings of positivity-negativity toward self and other and the degree of pleasuredisappointment produced by the feedback. Significant differences were found between the feedback that deviated from expectancy toward hope and that which deviated away from hope. It was also found that Ss who expected higher ratings from others reacted more positively than Ss of lower expectancies to unexpectedly favorable feedback but that in response to unexpectedly unfavorable ratings the reverse was true. Other results allowed the inference that not only is the magnitude of an expectancy-event discrepancy an important determinant of behavior but that other factors, such as directionality of the discrepancy (toward or away from hope), personality of the recipient and perceived credibility of the source of the deviant input, are also of significance. (Author)