The Emotion of Interest at Work

Abstract

provided guidance and mentoring that affected this project. Jim"s patient advice and suggestions on this project were invaluable and our coffee shop conversations remain one of my favorite memories of graduate school. Jim was the best kind of advisor, encouraging and improving my work and giving me confidence that these ideas would be of interest to others. Allison"s role in my master"s thesis and her achievement motivation class shaped the trajectory of the research questions in which I am most interested. David"s mentoring provided evidence of how research should inform psychological practice for the benefit of others. David"s influence extends far beyond my research activities and as a result I have been changed for the better. Patrick Armstrong and Michelle Perry provided thoughtful feedback that improved the quality of this research. Mary Russell and Doug Low were tremendous sounding boards for ideas about integrating different approaches to interest as well as the practice of psychology more generally. Paul Silvia"s book Exploring the Psychology of Interest (2006) provided the initial inspiration for this project, although the form naturally evolved since my first reading of the text. Many (many!) others -Questers, Rob and Robin, Kevin and Sylvia, to name a fewhave provided inspiration and gracious personal support to me and my family. I am deeply grateful. v Table of Contents Chapter 1 Introduction .