The Dynamics of Personality States, Goals, and Well-Being
Daniel Heller*,
Jennifer Komar,
Wonkyong Beth Lee
University of Waterloo
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dheller{at}post.tau.ac.il.
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Abstract |
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The authors examine the within-individual dynamics of Big-5 personality states over time in peoples daily lives. They focus on the magnitude of this within-individual variability, and the associations between personality states, short-term goals, and subjective well-being states. A total of 101 undergraduate students participated in a 10-day interval-contingent diary study. The authors findings, based on multilevel procedures, establish a considerable amount of within-individual variability that is both (a) equal or larger than that observed between individuals and (b) larger or similar to other constructs assessed with a state approach (e.g., self-esteem and mood). In addition, both neuroticism and extraversion states are systematically related to the short-term pursuit of approach-avoidance goals. Finally, support was obtained for the mediating role of both neuroticism and extraversion states of the association between goals and subjective well-being. In sum, the authors findings testify to the importance and utility of studying within-individual variability in personality states over time.