Simultaneous effects and aftereffects of the intensity and success aspect in coping with stresses

Intensity and success of coping processes in achievement-related situations are very often tightly connected. Therefore, the specific empirical status of each of the two aspects is unclear. In the current study a technique is introduced which allows orthogonal variation of both components. 64 subjects were confronted with a simple perceptual-speed task in which objective success rate was held constant by a computer-based adaptive process. Graphic feedback was provided about the objective success rate in relation to one of two different success criteria. For half of the subjects the criterion was above (failure condition) and for the other half it was below (success condition) the adaptively controlled success rate. Intensity, the second between-subjects factor, was manipulated by presenting either a high or a low number of items per time unit. As an additional quasi-experimental factor, the degree of action- vs. state-orientation (Kuhl, 1983) was included. The results showed highly specific effects for both the intensity and the failure/success dimension: High intensity resulted in an increase of electrodermal activity which could be observed throughout a one hour post-stressor phase. The failure/success variation had effects mainly on subjective variables representing appraisal of controllability and produced no after-effects. Especially strong effects on subjective variables could be observed when state-oriented subjects were confronted with both failure and high intensity.