Intensity Bias in Affective Forecasting: The Role of Temporal Focus

@article{Buehler2001IntensityBI,
  title={Intensity Bias in Affective Forecasting: The Role of Temporal Focus},
  author={Roger Buehler and Cathy McFarland},
  journal={Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin},
  year={2001},
  volume={27},
  pages={1480 - 1493}
}
In five studies, university students predicted their affective reactions to a wide variety of positive and negative future events. In Studies 1 to 3, participants also reported the affective reactions they experienced when the target event occurred. As hypothesized, they tended to anticipate more intense reactions than they actually experienced. In Studies 3 to 5, a cognitive determinant of this “intensity bias” was examined. It was hypothesized that people anticipate stronger affective… 
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