Is it better to be happy or right? Examining the relative role of the pragmatic and epistemic imperatives in momentary affective evaluations.

What is it about?

This study investigates whether people feel a sense of satisfaction when their negative predictions come true, a phenomenon we called "doomsayer's delight." We conducted experiments to test whether confirming negative expectations can be emotionally rewarding. The results show that the nature of the outcome (positive or negative) influences how we feel more than merely being right. Ultimately, confirming negative expectations does not necessarily make us feel better.

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Why is it important?

Our study reevaluates theories of cognitive consistency by showing that being correct about negative predictions often feels worse, not better. This suggests our emotional responses prioritize seeking pleasure over merely being right, challenging traditional views on how our expectations influence our feelings.