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Pet Peeves and Happiness: How Do Happy People Complain?
Abstract
The present study was designed to investigate the relationships among mindfulness, happiness, and the expression of pet peeves. Previous research has established a positive correlation between happiness and mindfulness, but, to date, no research has examined how each of these variables is related to complaining in the form of pet peeves. Four hundred ten male and female college students listed the pet peeves they had with a current or former relationship partner. They also completed measures of happiness, positive and negative affect, depression, mindfulness, relationship satisfaction, and satisfaction with life. Pet peeves were negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction, well-being, and mindfulness. Consistent with hypotheses, support was found for the mediating role of mindfulness in the relationship between happiness and pet peeves.
... One article gave advice about addressing one's boss's pet peeves but offered no theoretical or empirical support or justification for the recommendations (Knippen & Green, 1997). We found only one article that had pet peeves as a focus of study (Kowalski et al., 2014), with the authors defining pet peeves as "complaints about very specific events, persons, or behaviors" (p. 278). ...
... While troublesome others and aversive behaviors can be annoying, they do not necessarily constitute pet peeves (i.e., they may not be anyone's pet peeve). Pet peeves, such as mumbling (Kowalski et al., 2014) and needlessly complex writing (Ragins, 2012), tend to be more mild or trivial, whereas troublesome others and aversive behaviors tend to be viewed as "objectively" bad because they violate some common standard (e.g., company policies) and have been shown to cause tangible and measurable damaging effects on workers and organizations (e.g., absenteeism, turnover). ...
... Although some peer-reviewed journal articles discuss pet peeves as their central topic (e.g., Cifu, 2019;Ragins, 2012), their primary purpose was to allow the author(s) to vent about their pet peeves and/or to offer suggestions about how they perceive others can or should behave to avoid triggering those pet peeves. Prior to our study, scholars relegated pet peeves to a secondary role in research without exploring or determining the characteristics and attributes associated with pet peeves (e.g., Kowalski et al., 2014). We theorize that pet peeves are particularly irritating to people, especially in the workplace, because they violate one or more of the values and/or expectations of behavior that people hold in high esteem. ...
... People who are highly responsive to impending reward may be better able to overlook the negative ramifications of complaint expression and see the benefits of complaining. Because appetitive systems are linked to positive emotions (Carver & 20 MOTIVATIONS FOR COMPLAINT AVOIDANCE White, 1994), the negative direct associations of BAS and RIS with complaint avoidance may suggest that people with heighted levels of appetitive emotions such as happiness may be more satisfied with their relationships, and thus less likely to feel the need to complain (Kowalski et al., 2014). ...
The goal of this article was to examine complaint avoidance as a function of both the strength of people’s motivational systems and people’s expectations of conflict interactions. More specifically, we suggested that outcome expectancies and efficacy assessments mediate the associations between aversive and appetitive motivational systems, and complaint avoidance. Three hundred and sixty-six students completed measures assessing motivational systems (BIS/FFFS/BAS, RTS/RIS), outcome expectancies, efficacy assessments, and complaint avoidance behaviors. Our study provided partial support for our hypotheses that motivational systems influence complaint avoidance, and these associations are influenced by both outcome expectancies and efficacy assessments.
... Practicing mindfulness has been shown to have positive effects across a wide range of domains in one's everyday life. In examining mindfulness and relationships, Kowalski et al. (2014) showed that mindfulness was related to the feeling of happiness and decreased expression of pet peeves among partners. In examining mindfulness for organizational and personal well-being, Baccarani, Mascherpa, and Minozzo (2013) demonstrated that practicing mindfulness for 4 weeks increased well-being, self-control, general health and vitality, while anxiety and depression were decreased. ...
This chapter focuses on the contribution of strengths of character and mindfulness to the sense of meaning in life across central life domains, such as work, education, and family. Our conceptualization of character strengths is based on the universal VIA Classification of 24 character strengths, which are hierarchically organized across six broader virtue categories (Peterson and Seligman, Character Strengths and Virtues: A Handbook and Classification. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2004). We discuss empirical findings regarding various aspects of character strengths: strengths endorsement, strengths deployment, general strengths, and specific strengths. We then discuss mindfulness meditation and related practices; beginning with core concepts, followed by research findings around mindfulness practices and manualized programs. Next, we turn to a review of what is known about the integration of character strengths and mindfulness, followed by an examination of meaning, the integration of meaning and character strengths, and the integration of meaning and mindfulness, from conceptual and scientific frameworks. This culminates to an articulation of practice considerations. Here, we examine two domains: (1) targeted interventions, which reflect this research (i.e., “sources of meaning,” “strengths alignment,” and “what matters most?”), and (2) a multi-faceted character strengths program, Mindfulness-Based Strengths Practice (MBSP), aimed to increase the meaningful life. We conclude with suggestions for future research.
A social allergy is a reaction of hypersensitive annoyance or disgust to a repeated behavior. Two studies were conducted on the social allergen categories of uncouth habits, inconsiderate acts, intrusive behaviors, and norm violations. Study 1 focused on hypothetical male and female partner behaviors at 2 and 12 months in a dating relationship. Study 2 obtained reports of social allergens performed by the individual and partner in dating couples, as well as the individual's emotional responses and relationship outcomes. Social allergens were perceived to increase in frequency over time in both studies, with some indications that men were more uncouth and norm violating and women were more inconsiderate and intrusive. Study 2 also found that the more often that the partner performed an allergenic behavior, the stronger was the individual's negative emotional reaction. Further, frequent and emotionally intense social allergens were associated with relationship dissatisfaction, and with termination assessed a year later.
One possible reason for the continued neglect of statistical power analysis in research in the behavioral sciences is the inaccessibility of or difficulty with the standard material. A convenient, although not comprehensive, presentation of required sample sizes is provided. Effect-size indexes and conventional values for these are given for operationally defined small, medium, and large effects. The sample sizes necessary for .80 power to detect effects at these levels are tabled for 8 standard statistical tests: (1) the difference between independent means, (2) the significance of a product-moment correlation, (3) the difference between independent rs, (4) the sign test, (5) the difference between independent proportions, (6) chi-square tests for goodness of fit and contingency tables, (7) 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and (8) the significance of a multiple or multiple partial correlation.
Although attaining happiness is a nearly universal goal, surprisingly little research has focused on how happiness can be
increased and then sustained. Three studies test predictions of a model (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005) positing that sustainable
happiness is possible through intentional activity changes, more so than through circumstantial changes. Study 1 shows that
less hedonic adaptation is reported in response to activity changes than to circumstantial changes. Study 2 tests a dynamic
process model, showing that while both positive activity changes and positive circumstantial changes predict rank-order increases
in subjective well-being from Time 1 to Time 2, only activity changes predict maintained gains at Time 3. Study 3 replicates
the Study 2 findings and extends them to psychological well-being (Ryff and Keyes, 1995). Implications for positive psychology
and “the pursuit of happiness” are discussed.
This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is Suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
Much of the research in our laboratory has focused on the positive aspects of human interaction, such as attraction (Cunningham, Roberts, Barbee, & Druen, 1995), partner selection strategies (Druen, 1995), helpfulness (Cunningham, Shaffer, Barbee, Wolfe, & Kelley, 1990), honesty (Cunningham, Wong, & Barbee, 1994), and socially supportive cheering-up behaviors (Barbee & Cunningham, 1995). Yet, there may be limits to what can be learned about relationship dynamics by focusing solely on the determinants of prosocial actions.
Social allergens are behaviors or characteristics of others that generate strong, negative experiences in us. As with physical allergens, initial exposures may prompt only mild and slow-developing aversive reactions, whereas repeated exposures can elicit immediate and intensely uncomfortable emotions. Social allergens are pervasive and harmful to relationships. Persons who display them are less liked; relationships with such persons are experienced as less positive and stable; and the intensity of social allergens is associated with relationship dissolutions. Social allergens can be found in all regions of the interpersonal circle, and they are associated with greater vector lengths on the interpersonal circle and in the five-factor model space. Research on social allergens has provided empirical support for guiding assumptions in interpersonal theory.
Everyone has teased, nagged, betrayed, or lied to another person. Likewise, everyone has been the unfortunate object of such unpleasant behaviors. In this intriguing book, social psychologist Robin M. Kowalski examines the intricacies of six annoying interpersonal behaviors: complaining, teasing, breaches of propriety, worry and reassurance-seeking, lying, and betrayal. She considers the functions of these behaviors, the types of people who are inclined to do them, the consequences for victims and perpetrators, and the ways in which such behaviors might be curtailed.
Mindfulness is a flexible state of mind that is characterized by openness to novelty, sensitivity to context, and engagement with the present moment. In this chapter, mindfulness is proposed to be a critical factor in determining individual performance and shaping our learning experiences. In particular, mindfulness appears to be crucial in helping us deal with the inevitable uncertainties in our lives and environments. The role that mindfulness plays in shaping evaluations, both positive and negative, is also discussed. Finally, it is suggested that the mindful individual is likely to choose to be positive and will experience both the advantages of positivity and the advantages of perceived control for well-being.
This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
Previous meta-analyses on the effects of mindfulness meditation were predominantly concerned with clinical research. In contrast, the present study aims at giving a comprehensive overview of the effects of mindfulness meditation on various psychological variables, for meditators in nonclinical settings. Included are 39 studies that fulfilled our six selection criteria: (1) a mindfulness meditation treatment, (2) the existence of an inactive control group, (3) a population of nonclinical adults, (4) the investigation of psychological measures that were (5) assessed at temporal distance from a meditation session, and (6) the availability of sufficient data to calculate effect sizes. The dependent variables examined included, among others, attention, intelligence, self-attributed mindfulness, positive and negative emotions, emotion regulation, personality traits, self-concept, self-realization, stress, and well-being. We found an effect size of
$ \overline r = 0.27 $
averaged across all studies and dependent variables. The effects differed widely across dependent variables. Moreover, we found large differences between the effect sizes reported for complete Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction (MBSR) programs vs. “pure” meditation. MBSR seems to have its most powerful effect on attaining higher psychological well-being, whereas pure mindfulness meditation studies reported the largest effects on variables associated with the concept of mindfulness. This raises the question if some effect sizes found for MBSR might be partly inflated by effects that are not attributable to its mindfulness meditation component. Future theorizing should address meditation-specific concepts more extensively to account for the changes in healthy practitioners.
The CES-D scale is a short self-report scale designed to measure depressive symptomatology in the general population. The items of the scale are symptoms associated with depression which have been used in previously validated longer scales. The new scale was tested in household interview surveys and in psychiatric settings. It was found to have very high internal consistency and adequate test- retest repeatability. Validity was established by pat terns of correlations with other self-report measures, by correlations with clinical ratings of depression, and by relationships with other variables which support its construct validity. Reliability, validity, and factor structure were similar across a wide variety of demographic characteristics in the general population samples tested. The scale should be a useful tool for epidemiologic studies of de pression.
Mindfulness is a receptive attention to and awareness of events and experiences as they occur. A substantial body of literature supports the usefulness of mindfulness-based approaches for preventing or reducing emotional distress (e.g., depression and anxiety). However, mechanisms by which mindfulness produces these benefits are still being explored. Cognitive theories of emotional disorder implicate negatively biased cognition as a primary source of distress, and the theoretical literature on mindfulness suggests that it may reduce biased thoughts and judgments. Thus, the present research tested a mediation model in which less negatively biased cognition explains the inverse relation between mindfulness and emotional distress. Participants completed multiple standardized measures of trait mindfulness, negatively biased cognition, and emotional distress. The proposed relations between these constructs then were examined using structural equation modeling. Support was found for a partial mediation model, and possible alternative models were ruled out. These findings highlight a previously unidentified cognitive mechanism to explain the relation between mindfulness and reduced emotional distress. Specifically, mindfulness may reduce negative, maladaptive cognitive styles, which in turn may reduce predisposition to emotional disorders.
Several pilot studies have provided evidence that mindfulness-based intervention is beneficial during pregnancy, yet its effects in mothers during the early parenting period are unknown. The purpose of the present pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention in breast-feeding mothers. We developed and tested an 8-week mindfulness-based intervention aimed at improving maternal self-efficacy, mindfulness, self-compassion, satisfaction with life, and subjective happiness, and at reducing psychological distress. A randomized controlled, between-groups design was used with treatment and control groups (n = 26) and pretest and posttest measures. ANCOVA results indicated that, compared to the control group, mothers in the treatment group scored significantly higher on maternal self-efficacy, some dimensions of mindfulness (observing, acting with awareness, non-judging, and non-reactivity), and self-compassion (self-kindness, mindfulness, over-identification, and total self-compassion). In addition, mothers who received the treatment exhibited significantly less anxiety, stress, and psychological distress. The results supported previous research findings about the benefits of mindfulness-based intervention in women from the perinatal and postpartum periods through the early parenting period. Additional research is needed to validate our findings in non-breast-feeding mothers and to examine the intervention's indirect benefits in terms of family relationships and child development.
In recent studies of the structure of affect, positive and negative affect have consistently emerged as two dominant and relatively independent dimensions. A number of mood scales have been created to measure these factors; however, many existing measures are inadequate, showing low reliability or poor convergent or discriminant validity. To fill the need for reliable and valid Positive Affect and Negative Affect scales that are also brief and easy to administer, we developed two 10-item mood scales that comprise the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). The scales are shown to be highly internally consistent, largely uncorrelated, and stable at appropriate levels over a 2-month time period. Normative data and factorial and external evidence of convergent and discriminant validity for the scales are also presented. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)
An improved instrument, the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ), has been derived from the Oxford Happiness Inventory, (OHI). The OHI comprises 29 items, each involving the selection of one of four options that are different for each item. The OHQ includes similar items to those of the OHI, each presented as a single statement which can be endorsed on a uniform six-point Likert scale. The revised instrument is compact, easy to administer and allows endorsements over an extended range. When tested against the OHI, the validity of the OHQ was satisfactory and the associations between the scales and a battery of personality variables known to be associated with well-being, were stronger for the OHQ than for the OHI. Although parallel factor analyses of OHI and the OHQ produced virtually identical statistical results, the solution for the OHQ could not be interpreted. The previously reported factorisability of the OHI may owe more to the way the items are formatted and presented, than to the nature of the items themselves. Sequential orthogonal factor analyses of the OHQ identified a single higher order factor, which suggests that the construct of well-being it measures is uni-dimensional. Discriminant analysis has been employed to produce a short-form version of the OHQ with eight items.
Although everyone complains at least occasionally, surprisingly little research attention has been devoted to the topic of complaining. In this review, complaints are defined as expressions of dissatisfaction, whether subjectively experienced or not, for the purpose of venting emotions or achieving intrapsychic goals, interpersonal goals, or both. A theoretical model of complaining is presented that examines the relationship between self-focus, the perceived utility of complaining, and complaining. In addition, this article examines variables related to people's dissatisfaction and complaining thresholds (i.e., negative affect, locus of control, self-presentational concerns, age, and gender), functions of complaining, and intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences of complaining.
Mindfulness is an attribute of consciousness long believed to promote well-being. This research provides a theoretical and empirical examination of the role of mindfulness in psychological well-being. The development and psychometric properties of the dispositional Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS) are described. Correlational, quasi-experimental, and laboratory studies then show that the MAAS measures a unique quality of consciousness that is related to a variety of well-being constructs, that differentiates mindfulness practitioners from others, and that is associated with enhanced self-awareness. An experience-sampling study shows that both dispositional and state mindfulness predict self-regulated behavior and positive emotional states. Finally, a clinical intervention study with cancer patients demonstrates that increases in mindfulness over time relate to declines in mood disturbance and stress.
Social allergens Handbook of interpersonal psychology: Theory, research, assessment, and therapeutic interventions
- O ' Connor
O'Connor, B. P. (2011). Social allergens. In L. M. Horowitz & S. Strack (Eds.), Handbook of interpersonal psychology:
Theory, research, assessment, and therapeutic interventions (pp. 269–280). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.