Date of Award

2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Robert Tindale

Second Advisor

Rebecca Silton

Abstract

In this study, discretion between the styles used to anticipate positive events is the focus of a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) conducted on the Index of Anticipatory Styles (IAS). The IAS is a 45-item survey used to measure types of savoring in response to future positive events. This work expands the savoring literature to examine approach- and avoidant-type anticipatory savoring. Approach-type anticipatory savoring discriminates between Enjoyment, Coping, Control, Recalled Anticipation, and Downplaying. Avoidant-type savoring parses between Avoidance of anticipation because events may not occur, Avoidance of anticipation because events may fail to live up to expectations, Jinxing, and Counterproductivity. CFA analysis includes models which reflect unidimensional, two-dimensional, six- and nine-factors. Nine-factor modeling of anticipation of future positive events was found to have the best fit. Discretion between styles of anticipation is supported by the pattern of data, encouraging researchers to maintain a multidimensional distinction with regards to how people anticipate future positive events. Future work may examine the dimensions of anticipatory savoring in relation to personality and responsiveness to reward.

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