Generalization in the effects of a mood induction procedure

Abstract

Mood Induction Procedures (MIP's) requiring subjects to read depressing self-referent statements have recently been employed in laboratory analogues of depression. Although these procedures have been shown to effect mood, their effectiveness in producing more general changes in behaviour has been less consistent. An alternative MIP was used in this study. Thirty-two male and female students listened either to a depressing or an affectively neutral tape. The MIP produced significant mood disturbance and significant decrease in self-rated activation. However, during the test phase, the MIP group showed greater behavioural activation in a counting speed measure, and facilitated performance on a shuttlebox noise-escape task. Evidence is presented which suggests that this represented a characteristic initial response by depressed and helpless subjects on laboratory tasks.