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Some Detrimental Effects of Negative Mood on Individuals' Ability to Solve Resource Dilemmas

Johannes Gutenberg University, Germany

Margaret S. Clark

Carnegie Mellon University

This research examined the effects of induced mood on subjects' problem-solving behavior In an initial study, an experimenter induced one of three emotions (happiness, sadness, or anger) or no emotion in subjects. Shortly thereafter a second experimenter asked each subject to solve a resource dilemma problem. Subjects in the sad and angry mood conditions were less successful (i.e., they were more likely to deplete limited resources, and they achieved less profit) than subjects in the happy or neutral mood condition. Performance of subjects in positive moods did not differ from that of subjects in neutral moods. In a second study, the effect of a sad mood leading to less success than a neutral mood was replicated. The effects observed across the two studies were attributed to a decrease in subjects' ability to delay gratification, found previously to be caused by negative, but not positive, moods.

Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Vol. 17, No. 6, 678-688 (1991)
DOI: 10.1177/0146167291176011


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