Effects of Induced Mood on Social Cognitions

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Abstract
Previous studies have shown that depressed persons make negative interpretations of social stimuli. In the present study normal undergraduates were exposed to elated or depressed mood-induction procedures and were asked to interpret drawings of social situations. Subjects rated their own stories on a pleasantness-unpleasantness scale. The stories were also transcribed and rated by independent judges. Both the ratings of judges and subjects differed for elated and depressed subjects. The data suggest that mood may alter social perceptions in important ways and that these effects can be observed in normal persons after a brief mood-altering experience. The results are related to cognitive theories of depression.