| Abstract: | D. Watson and A. Tellegen (1985) proposed a hierarchical model of self-rated affect in which 2 broad, general dimensions (negative affect NA] and positive affect) are each composed of several correlated yet ultimately distinguished emotions. As a partial test of this model, 4 studies examining relations among measures of fear, sadness, hostility, and guilt through a series of multitrait–multimethod matrixes were conducted. Consistent with a hierarchical model, all 4 NAs showed significant convergent validity and adequate discriminant validity, indicating that they represent meaningful and differentiable psychological constructs. However, the measures were also consistently and substantially interrelated, thereby demonstrating the existence of a strong higher order NA factor in self-report data. Results demonstrate the importance of assessing both levels of the hierarchical structure in studies of self-rated affect. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
