Affect and self-gratification

Employed a direct induction of mood to determine the role of affect in self-gratification. 24 female and 23 male 3rd graders were asked to think of things that made them happy or sad, or were assigned to a control condition. Subsequently they were given an opportunity to help themselves to money. Ss in both happy and sad conditions self-rewarded more than controls, and Ss in the happy condition self-rewarded somewhat more than those in the sad condition. Results are compared to previous findings under success/failure, and a reinterpretation of those findings is offered. The relationship between self-gratification, other-gratification, and affect is discussed.