Co-Authors:
Nicole Therriault, DePaul University
Daniel M. Wegner, University of Virginia
This study examined the influence of anticipated social interaction on the
regulation of moods. Study I induced happy and sad moods through exposure
to music. All participants expected to perform a second, unrelated
experimental task either by themselves or with another participant.
Participants who expected to do the task alone subsequently selected
positive and negative news stories equally, but those who expected to
interact preferred stories containing material incongruent with their
mood. Study 2 confirmed this outcome, but showed it was confined primarily
to anticipation of interaction with partners who are expected to be in
neutral or good moods themselves. In Study 3, participants whose mood was
not manipulated reduced self-exposure to cheerful or depressing videos
when they expected to interact with another.
©, 1996, American Psychological Association, Inc.
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology Vol. 70, No. 4
757-766
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