Because it is fun! Individual differences in effort enjoyment beliefs relate to behavioural and physiological indicators of effort seeking

Effort is commonly characterized as a negative, unpleasant experience. This research explores the extent to which individuals vary in whether they believe effort to be enjoyable or aversive and how this relates to a range of behavioural and physiological indicators of effort exertion. In 4 studies (N = 1690), participants either completed an Effort Enjoyment Belief Scale or were experimentally led to believe that effort is enjoyable or aversive. Results showed that on average, participants tended to believe that effort is enjoyable. Both measured and manipulated effort enjoyment beliefs predicted difficulty selection on an arithmetic task. Further, the beliefs predicted effort exertion as assessed via cardiovascular measurements (β-adrenergic sympathetic activity) and were associated with high school grades and subjective evaluation of academic success at university. These results imply that the subjective cost or value of effort may be affected by (social) learning experiences, shaping individual’s effort enjoyment beliefs and, in turn, their tendency to approach or avoid demanding tasks and the exertion of effort. Thus, when modelling behaviour as the result of a cost-benefit analysis, effort may not contribute exclusively to the costs but also add value to a course of action, depending on individuals’ effort enjoyment beliefs.