Thoughts and feelings: Correlational relationships and cross-situational consistency

Abstract

The current study was designed to examine: whether cognitions could be reliably classified into affective categories; the correlational relationship between specific cognitions and specific affective states; and the degree of cross-situational consistency in the use of particular cognitions. One hundred and five undergraduates completed a research scale consisting of 10 hypothetical situations followed by a series of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The behaviors were included as part of another project. For each situation, students rated how characteristic or descriptive each thought and feeling was for them. A series of analyses indicated that cognitions could be reliably classified into the affective categories of anger, anxiety, depression, suspiciousness, and rationality. However, very few significant relationships were found between specific cognitions and affective states. Ninety-five percent of the students were cross-situationally consistent in their rating of one or more thought categories. Additionally, a significant relationship (r =.304, p<.02)was found between scores on the Beck Depression Inventory and the rating of depressed thoughts by the cross-situationally consistent individuals. The results suggest that the relationship between thoughts and feelings is mediated by a number of person- and situation-specific variables. Replication and examination of cognitive-affective relationships in clinical populations are greatly needed.