PLEASURE, AROUSAL, AND DOMINANCE - EXPLORING AFFECTIVE DETERMINANTS OF RECREATION SATISFACTION

This study explored the application of affective indicators in underst anding recreation satisfaction among hunters, using A. Mehrabian and J .A. Russell's (1974) pleasure, arousal and dominance (P-A-D) model. Fa ctor analysis was performed to examine the dimensional structure of af fective response to a recreation engagement. Regression models examine d the relationship between affect and conventional measures of recreat ion satisfaction The results showed that affect did not factor into a 3-dimensional structure suggested by the P-A-D model Rather, a 1-dimen sional structure emerged Affect explained moderate amounts of variance in four measures of satisfaction Measures of satisfaction were also r egressed on separate P-A-D dimensions. The pleasure dimension was the most important predictor of overall satisfaction with a hunting trip a nd a summated satisfaction measure. The dominance dimension was most i mportant far satisfaction with chance to bag game. The arousal dimensi on consistently was lowest in predictive importance.