The Woe of Wanting: Anticipatory Pleasure Can be Unpleasant

Poster Session IX

Keyword: Motivation

Abstract: We manipulated anticipatory pleasure (i.e., wanting) using monetary incentives and probed participants’ subjective reports of pleasantness, unpleasantness, desire, and psychological capture during anticipation of rewards. As incentives increased, participants felt simultaneously more pleasant and psychologically captured, a state described as unpleasant. Increases in desire were accompanied by greater psychological capture.

• Jean Rehani (Presenting Author)
• Ravi Thiruchselvam (Author)