Locomotion and assessment: self-regulation and subjective well-being

Kruglanski et al. (2000) demonstrated that active engagement of two self-regulatory modes, locomotion and assessment, was optimal for performance in the achievement context. However, much is unclear about the relationship between these two self-regulatory modes and subjective well-being. The present study (N=143) tested for possible interaction effects of the two modes on depressive moods and life satisfaction. Results suggested that high involvement of both modes was not associated with subjective well-being. Instead, individuals who were high in locomotion but low in assessment appeared the most adjusted. This suggested that the interactive effects of the two self-regulatory modes differed in implications across performance- and affective-related outcomes.