Irrational beliefs are associated with the experience of negative feelings in positive situations. The role of biased positive appraisals in mixed feelings

Abstract

Abstract Appraisals are important processes involved in both healthy and pathological emotional experiences. Realistic appraisals are required for healthy positive and negative emotions. Instead, biased appraisals are involved in cognitive vulnerability to emotional disorders. We examined a specific type of biased appraisal, irrational beliefs, and their relationships with the experience of negative and neutral feelings, along with positive feelings in positive situations. 115 participants imagined eight positive situations and endorsed their ratings and appraisals of the situations and feelings they would experience in each situation. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between biased appraisals and negative, neutral, and mixed feelings in response to positive situations. Results showed that participants who react to positive situations by endorsing high levels of biased appraisals reported experiencing more mixed feelings in positive situations. We also observed that mixed feelings are inversely related to functional positive feelings in positive situations. This research is the first to evidence irrational beliefs as a specific type of biased appraisal process involved in the experience of mixed feelings. Suggestions for the processes involved in well-being, the negative effects of positive fantasies, and mixed emotions are made.