Pleasure, arousal, and dominance: Exploring affective determinants of recreation satisfaction

Abstract

This study explored the application of affective indicators in understanding recreation satisfaction among hunters, using A. Mehrabian and J.A. Russell's (1974) pleasure, arousal and dominance (P‐A‐D) model. Factor analysis was performed to examine the dimensional structure of affective response to a recreation engagement. Regression models examined the relationship between affect and conventional measures of recreation satisfaction. The results showed that affect did not factor into a 3‐dimensional structure suggested by the P‐A‐D model. Rather, a 1‐dimensional structure emerged. Affect explained moderate amounts of variance in four measures of satisfaction. Measures of satisfaction were also regressed on separate P‐A‐D dimensions. The pleasure dimension was the most important predictor of overall satisfaction with a hunting trip and a summated satisfaction measure. The dominance dimension was most important for satisfaction with chance to bag game. The arousal dimension consistently was lowest in predictive importance.

Keywords:

• affect
• emotion
• hunting satisfaction
• outdoor recreation
• recreation satisfaction