I would ultimately like to include this task in a mobile app; thus, copyrighted materials (e.g., studio film clips) are out. Any ideas? Thanks!
Of course! This would be for adults across the lifespan. Thanks!
Frustration occurs when goal pursuit is interrupted. Way back in late 1920s, Bluma Zeigarnik found folks ruminate about a blocked goal, whereas Morrow (early 30s) discovered that if you suggest that when you stop a person from acting, it signals goal completion -- or at least sufficient task mastery -- then "blocking" a goal does not induce rumination. But if such an external label was not offered, you get the now classic "Zeigarnik" effect (thoughts stuck on blocked goal).
Much more recently, Daniel Wegner ("Don't think about a white bear....") and many other social psychologists have shown a ready replacement is needed, in conscious thought, to keep obsessive thoughts at bay. See Wegner's thought suppression work as well as the illusion of control.
His ironic thought suppression research shows how setting up a goal "to forget something" will inevitably evoke the very thoughts you wish to suppress. This seems ripe for frustration manipulation.
Furthermore, others have extended these notions into study of depression. Depression and anxiety often have ruminative thoughts looping.
So, you might set up a goal -- maybe with a time-pressure -- and interrupt Ss. If they are using a mobile app, seems it could be a timed task.
You could stop their progress.
If you just say "time's up" then they will be frustrated.
If you say "time's up and you have reached enough of your goal," then they should be less frustrated or perhaps even pleased.
I bet there will be enough of an emotional difference.
Of course, it is up to you to devise what cognitive task could be on an app, and be timed, and then how to exactly phrase the interruption.
However, copious amounts of literature supports goal-interruption as frustrating, even to point of anger.
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