Challenge Appraisals as Key Predictors of Immediate and Long-Term Behavior Change: Evidence From Real-Life Group Contexts

Engaging in behavior to facilitate personal growth or collective change is a form of “positive risk-taking.” Going against the status quo entails a risk of social disapproval and can raise discomfort. When will this impede or benefit the achievement of behavioral change? Across two studies, we investigated responses during and after group sessions with a motivational speaker, in which behavioral exercises encouraged positive risk-taking behavior. In Study 1, we investigated the moderating role of challenge and threat appraisals on the relationship between discomfort and positive risk-taking intentions among 133 employees of 3 organizations. We hypothesized that the relationship between experienced discomfort and positive risk-taking intentions would be positive (negative), if the discomfort was evaluated as a challenge (threat). In Study 2, we experimentally manipulated the type of discomfort (“control,” “self-experienced discomfort,” “observed discomfort”) and measured positive risk-taking behavior before, immediately after, and 3 weeks after the event among 146 university students. Results revealed that challenge appraisals significantly predicted positive risk-taking intentions and long-term behaviors. Notably, these effects were obtained regardless of whether discomfort was experienced personally or observed in others. Our research highlights the importance of challenge appraisals in motivating immediate and long-term positive risk-taking in group contexts. Implications and directions for future research are discussed.