Few research studies have tested hypotheses from an integrated, multilevel theoretical model on coaching intentional change. Drawing on Intentional Change Theory (ICT) and supporting cognitive emotion and social complexity perspectives on positive and negative affect, this dissertation presents the first empirical investigation on the differential impact of inducing positive emotion vs. negative emotion in real time executive coaching sessions. Nineteen coaching recipients were randomly assigned to two coaching conditions. In the PEA condition the coachee’s own hopes, strengths, desired future (the Positive Emotional Attractor) was the anchoring framework of a onetime, hour-long coaching session. In the NEA condition the coachee’s own perceived improvement needs, weaknesses, present reality (the Negative Emotional Attractor) was the anchoring framework. Two central ICT propositions were tested. Hypothesis1 predicted that PEA participants would show higher levels of positive emotion during appraisal of 360-degree feedback results and discussion of change goals than NEA participants. Hypothesis2 predicted that PEA participants would show lower levels of stress immediately after the coaching session than NEA participants.
Regression analyses found that the PEA group showed significantly lower levels of negative emotions (p = .05) and anger (p = .02) and focused more on personal interests and passions (p = .01) as compared to the NEA group. These findings lend preliminary support to the proposition that framing a coaching session around a coachee’s PEA elicits positive emotions that broaden a person’s momentary thought-action repertoire, whereas framing a session in the NEA elicits negative emotions that narrow this array. Further, demonstrated time series changes in expressed sadness or depression (.01) and future (.04) offer preliminary support to the ICT proposition that recurrent PEA-NEA arousal, and associated interplay of positive and negative emotion, characterize intentional change. The prediction on post-coaching level of stress was not supported.