Social emotions and personality inferences: A scaffold for a new direction in the study of achievement motivation

The study of achievement motivation has been focused on the prediction of performance, while neglecting the self- and other-directed emotions and personality inferences that are inherent in achievement settings. Attributional principles are used here to provide a research scaffold to study these neglected topics. Included within the paper are examinations of admiration, anger, arrogance, contempt, deceit, derogation, encouragement, envy, flattery, gratitude, guilt, hopelessness, modesty, pride, schadenfreude (joy in the failure of another), shame, and sympathy. These are some of the psychologically meaningful emotions and personality inferences that are in need of research attention in achievement contexts.