Abstract
Models of neurobiological systems linking personality,
motivation, and emotion can be integrated with the expectancy construct
to suggest hypotheses about distress and giving up in response to
adversity. In 220 women with breast cancer, threat
responsiveness-sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition system
(BIS)-and incentive responsiveness-sensitivity of the
behavioral activation system (BAS)-and expectancies about
cancer recurrence were measured. It was predicted and found that high
BIS sensitivity interacted with recurrence expectancy to predict elevated
distress and disengagement. Low BAS sensitivity (reward
responsiveness) also interacted with expectancy of recurrence to predict
elevated disengagement. In contrast, high BAS sensitivity
(fun seeking) interacted with recurrence expectancy to predict
elevated distress. Discussion centers on theoretical implications and
possible applications.
