Congruence between implicit and explicit motives and emotional well-being: The moderating role of activity inhibition

The current research tested the hypothesis that activity inhibition-conceptualized as the degree of restraint an individual exercises over emotional and motivational impulses-moderates the association between congruence of implicit and explicit motives and emotional well-being. Congruence of implicit and explicit motives was expected to be related to a more positive well-being among individuals low in activity inhibition, but not among individuals high in activity inhibition. Two cross-sectional studies (Study 1: N = 72; Study 2: N = 147) were conducted to test this hypothesis. Both studies found the predicted pattern of results for achievement motivation, demonstrating that congruence of implicit and explicit achievement motivation was related to a more positive mood only for participants low in activity inhibition. There was no evidence of congruence effects for affiliation motivation.