Characteristics of challenging situations: two policy-capturing studies
Journal of Managerial Psychology
ISSN: 0268-3946
Article publication date: 11 June 2019
Issue publication date: 11 June 2019
Abstract
Purpose
Although the appraisal of a situation as challenging has positive effects on performance and stress-related outcomes, the situational and individual characteristics that make challenge appraisal likely are far from clear. The purpose of this paper is to test these characteristics based on a review of the conceptualizations of challenge and the associated positive effects.
Design/methodology/approach
Potential characteristics of challenge are tested in two policy-capturing studies using a full factorial experimental design.
Findings
Results reveal that situations are appraised as more challenging than threatening when goal importance, task difficulty and controllability are high rather than low.
Research limitations/implications
These results indicate that challenge and threat are distinguished through the means a person believes to have available to cope with demands, an aspect of controllability.
Originality/value
This paper provides a first experimental test of characteristics of challenging situations.
Keywords
Citation
Ohly, S. (2019), "Characteristics of challenging situations: two policy-capturing studies", Journal of Managerial Psychology, Vol. 34 No. 3, pp. 170-183. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMP-06-2018-0232
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited