PREFERENCES OF HIGH-HOPE AND LOW-HOPE PEOPLE FOR SELF-REFERENTIAL INPUT

High-hope and low-hope research participants (males and females), as p reselected on the basis of a dispositional self-report scale, choose f reely between brief audiotaped messages that varied in depressive cont ent. In the first experiment, the messages were of either positive or negative content. High-hope as compared to low-hope persons preferred listening to the positive tapes (no differences related to Gender), an d this Hope main effect remained after the shared variance related to depression and positive and negative affectivity were removed. In a mo dified replication, the contents of the tapes were comprised of succes sful or unsuccessful goal-attainment statements related to hopeful thi nking. High-hope as compared to low-hope persons again preferred to li sten to the successful goal pursuit messages (no differences related t o Gender), and this Hope main effect on listening choices remained aft er the shared variances related to depression, positive and negative a ffectivity, and self-esteem were removed. Implications are discussed.