This book represents a social psychological approach to the study of emotion. The contributors present empirical data using the 'time sampling' or 'experience sampling' technique developed by Brandstätter. This technique allows researchers to gain direct access to the phenomenological experiences of subjects without the distorting effects of recall. Populations studied include bank employees, factory workers, housewives, and the unemployed.

Economic behavior is explored from a psychological perspective by both, prominent economic psychologists with a long tradition in studying economic problems as well as economists who are open and interested in the psychological aspects of economic behavior. The contributions discuss the prospects and difficulties of this dialogue between psychology and economics and survey some important areas of research where such an interdisciplinary approach has proved to be successful. The text can also be used to introduce psychology to economists in order to give them an idea how to analyze economic problems from a psychological perspective. It also indicates many urgent and exciting research topics awaiting eager scholars to carry on the dialogue.