Emotional Regulation of Individuals with and without Fear of Success

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the manifestation of fear of success and its relationship to the emotions involved. Fifty two first year college students at the University of Crete participated in an experiment in which deviations from a desirable outcome were examined as a function of the demands of that outcome (success). As a result 31 of the participants declined the success given. Males and females appeared to be equally affected by fear of success, a finding that should be interpreted with caution due to the unequal sample size of the two groups. Additionally, affect was assessed both prior to and fallowing the experimental manipulation. Results showed that individuals who did not display fear of success experienced significantly elevated positive affect (joy, energization, interest) compared to individuals who expressed fear of success. Within groups analyses indicated that individuals having fear of success expressed negative affect fallowing the experimental manipulation compared to their affect at commencement of the experiment.