Take as an example individual differences in
positive versus negative affectivity. Whereas some people have high chronic
levels of positive affectivity, others have relatively high chronic levels of
negative affectivity. Whereas the former feel calm, happy, patient, and
optimistic, the latter tend to feel down, depressed, sad, nervous, and unhappy.
An important hypothesis to test is that those with high levels of chronic
positive affectivity are (a) less likely to get into conflicts with others and, if they
do, to manage these in rather constructive ways, and entirely independently,
and (b) more likely to feel happy about their jobs, and life in general.