Date of Award

2014

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Honors Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Alison O'Malley

Abstract

Researchers have suggested differences between mindfulness and flow in their attentional breadth or focus. Being high or low in attentional breadth is more desirable depending on the situation or the focal task. I sought to better understand mindfulness and flow by seeing how they lessen negative emotional reactions to negative feedback, a process which can hinder performance improvement. In a laboratory experiment 92 Butler University undergraduate students underwent a Tetris performance task; where all participants received the same negative feedback. Measuring for emotional reactions and interest after the negative feedback I did not find significant findings in light of my manipulations, but I reveal data that were trending in a manner resembling my anticipated findings.

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