The Art of Getting Things Done: Training Affective Shifting Improves Intention Enactment

Abstract

Effectively managing to-do lists and getting things done is a desirable competence. However, when things get difficult or demanding, many individuals struggle to put their intentions into subsequent actions. According to Personality Systems Interactions (PSI) theory, changes in positive affect are decisive for efficient intention enactment. Based on this understanding, in the present study we designed and evaluated an affect-focused intervention that practices shifting between high and low positive affect. In a control group design (N = 252, M-age = 26.40, SD = 10.24, range 18-66) the affective shifting intervention was contrasted against two other conditions (affective boosting and neutral). To test our assumptions, personal real-life intentions were assessed, and multifaceted measures (self-report, nonreactive) were applied and measured at different time points. To evaluate affective shifting, we tested interindividual benefits in the Stroop task. Additionally, we analyzed intervention effects on positive affect and intention enactment in real life. In line with our assumptions, we found that specifically those individuals who struggle with intention enactment (i.e., state-oriented) benefited in terms of better intention enactment ability in the Stroop task. Further, affective shifting fostered the decisive self-regulation of positive affect that directly improved intention enactment 3 weeks after the intervention. Lastly, affective shifting led to more self-coherent intention enactment, meaning a greater integration of Expectancy x Value considerations 3 weeks after the intervention. Discussion of our findings highlights the importance of theory-driven and affect-related interventions to close the gap between intention and action.