Predisposition for anxiety and affiliation

Hypothesized that in emotionally arousing conditions, Ss with high A-Trait (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) would manifest a higher need for affiliation than Ss with low A-Trait. 2 kinds of anxiety, general and specific, were aroused at both high and low levels; both high and low A-Trait Ss (80 male undergraduates) were included in these groups. Affiliation was assessed by an intensity measure of the preference to wait alone or with other Ss. Results indicate that high A-Trait Ss rejected affiliation when highly aroused but welcomed it when less aroused. Ss with low A-Trait preferred affiliation when highly aroused but rejected it when less aroused. Present and previous findings are integrated; some generalizations about emotional comparison theory are suggested, and problems of studying anxiety are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).