Velocity relation: Satisfaction as a function of the first derivative of outcome over time.

Social scientists have found that satisfaction with an outcome is positively related not just to the position (i.e., actual level) of the outcome, but also to the displacement (i.e., directional difference) between the current level and a reference level. Extending the displacement notion, the present research hypothesized that satisfaction is positively related to the velocity (i.e., rate) at which the outcome changes over time, and tested this hypothesis by using hypothetical outcomes presented in questionnaires (Study 1) and displayed on a computer screen (Study 2). Results from both studies supported the hypothesis. The findings are discussed with regard to their implications for a formal model of the outcome-satisfaction relationship and for a dynamic analysis of human behavior. The present research investigates the relation(s) between the desired outcome of an event and the satisfaction of the person who experiences the event. For example, what is the relation between the grade point average (GPA) of a student and his satisfaction with his grade? What is the relation between the salary of a worker and her satisfaction with her salary? What is the relation between the amount of fame an actor has and his satisfaction with it? What is the relation between the weight of a dieter and her satisfaction with her weight? We believe that there exists more than one relation between outcome and satisfaction. Probably the simplest relation is that satisfaction depends on the actual value of the outcome: The more (less) positive an outcome, the greater (less) the satisfaction.1 For example, the higher the GPA, the more satisfied a student is with it; the higher the salary, the more satisfied a worker is with it. Formally, this relation can be expressed as