Affective events theory proposes which of the following?

• A. Workplace events trigger emotional reactions that influence attitudes and behaviors, linking daily experiences to mood, job satisfaction, and performance.
• B. Motivation is solely based on pay; mood is random.
• C. Only intrinsic rewards matter; events do not influence mood.
• D. Job design eliminates emotional responses.

Answer: (A)

Affective events theory holds that everyday workplace events evoke emotional responses, and those emotions shape how you feel about your job and how you behave, creating a link from daily experiences to mood, job satisfaction, and performance. In practice, the events you encounter at work—like feedback, praise, or conflicts—trigger affect that colors your attitudes and actions, which then influences outcomes such as satisfaction and how well you perform.

So, why this is the best choice: it captures the dynamic sequence where events lead to emotions, and those emotions drive attitudes and behavior, tying daily experiences directly to mood, satisfaction, and performance.

The other ideas miss this causal chain. Motivation isn’t portrayed as arising solely from pay, nor is mood merely random; emotions are systematically elicited by workplace events and influence work-related judgments and actions. Intrinsic rewards alone aren’t the whole story either since events external to intrinsic motivation can still trigger affect. And job design doesn’t eliminate emotions; it can shape the kinds of events people experience and how those emotions influence responses.