JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.
The Effects Of Mood On Semantic Memory For Word Emotional Content

Author
Fu, Yu
Abstract
Although the effect of emotion on episodic memory has been extensively studied recently, little is known about its effects on the content of semantic memory. The present research explores how mood influences semantic memory for word emotional content. Following the induction of mood states that varied in valence and arousal, participants rated the valence and arousal of a list of words. Ratings were obtained immediately after mood induction and two days later. The positive mood induction groups rated words as more positive and more arousing than the negative groups, in both the immediate session and the delayed session, while they only rated their mood as more positive in the immediate session. Thus, mood valence affected semantic memory for word emotional content, and the effect persisted long after mood had disappeared. In addition to and independent from the mood valence effect, a time effect showed that word arousal ratings obtained in the delayed session were higher than those in the immediate session.
Date Issued
2011-01-31Committee Chair
Brainerd, Charles
Committee Member
Koslowski, Barbara Marie
Degree Discipline
Developmental Psychology
Degree Name
M.A., Developmental Psychology
Degree Level
Master of Arts
Type
dissertation or thesis