Known deterrents produce non-monotonic emotional intensity peaking at function importance.

Evidence

In the absence of deterrents, emotional intensity is a function of the importance of achieving the function of the emotion. When, however, deterrents are known, a different process occurs, and emotional intensity varies non-monotonically as a function of the level of deterrence. When the level of deterrence is perceived to be low, emotional intensity should also be low, because little motivation is required to achieve the function of the emotion. As the perceived magnitude of deterrence increases, so too will emotional intensity, up to the point set by the importance of attaining the function of the emotion. If the perceived level of deterrence increases beyond that point, emotional intensity should drop substantially. — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 32

Categorization

• XREF: This inverted-U prediction parallels energy/urgency models of motivation — relates to the reader’s synthesis on institutional apology asymmetry where cost could paradoxically dampen felt guilt once deterrents exceed importance. — connects to: Emotional intensity follows an inverted-U curve as deterrents grow — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 562; Emotional intensity is capped by the subjective importance of the emotion’s function. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt: International…, 589; Emotional intensity rises then falls as deterrents increase. — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 26 (+2 more)
• QUESTION: This predicts that extreme difficulty of apology/reparation should crash guilt below baseline — a striking claim worth checking against the study’s data.

Broader Connections

• Emotional intensity rises to a maximum set by function importance when deterrents are unknown. #qualifies (0.78) — Michael T. Schmitt, Daniel A. Miller, Nyla R. Branscombe, and Jack W. Brehm, The Difficulty of Making Reparations…, 31
• Motivational intensity rises and falls nonlinearly with task difficulty. #expands (0.74) — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 558