The Effects of Induced and Naturally Occurring Dysphoric Mood on Biases in Self-evaluation and Memory

Abstract

Biases in self-evaluation and memory were compared across nondysphoric (ND), experimentally dysphoric (ED), and naturally dysphoric (DYS) subjects. First, subjects judged the self-descriptiveness of a series of negative and positive adjectives, and were then given an incidental memory test. Next, subjects performed an intentional memory task with negative and neutral materials. Across measures of endorsement, judgement latency, and memory, both ED and ND subjects showed positive biases, whereas DYS subjects exhibited “even-handed” processing. These findings suggest that dysphoric mood (at least of brief duration) cannot be solely responsible for the erosion of positive biases that appear to characterise depression.