The Effects of Induced Mood States on Selfreinforcement Behavior

Summary

The influence of mood on subsequent self-reinforcement was investigated in 72 male and female college students. Feelings of elation, depression, or neutrality were induced in Ss by having them read a structured set of mood statements. Ss, assigned to either a self-reward or self-punishment condition, evaluated their performance on an ambiguous word association task by marking a self-praise or self-critical point. Ss in the elation condition awarded themselves the highest rate of praise and the lowest rate of self-criticism. Ss in the depression condition administered the highest rate of self-criticism.