Mood, Memory, and Vigilance: The Influence of Distraction on Recall and Impression Formation

Abstract

This research investigated the influence of distraction on subjects' impressions and memory while in positive and negative moods. Subjects' incidental memory for affective traits used as a basis for forming an impression of a target person was assessed. Results indicated that subjects in negative moods were not as vulnerable to the influence of distraction on stimulus encoding as subjects in positive moods. In addition, mood effects on memory were observed but not on subjects' impressions. Results are interpreted using Schwarz and Clore's feelings as information model.