Differentiating emotions in relation to deserved or undeserved outcomes: A retrospective study of real-life events

A model is described that relates discrete emotions to the perceived deservingness of self or other's positive or negative outcome (Feather, 2006 Feather, N. T. 2006. Deservingness and emotions: Applying the structural model of deservingness to the analysis of affective reactions to outcomes. European Review of Social Psychology, 17: 38–73. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The model proposes that the evaluation of actions and their contingent outcomes is a key determinant of deservingness. The model was tested in a study in which participants (N=194) described an important recent positive or negative outcome that they deserved or did not deserve and then rated emotions relating to the outcome for their intensity. Results showed outcome effects and interaction effects involving deservingness and outcome for the self-related emotions of pleasure, pride, sadness, sympathy, guilt, regret, anger, and resentment that were consistent with the model. Implications of the model for appraisal theory and for future research on deservingness and emotions are discussed.