Mood and the expression of intergroup attitudes: The moderating role of affect intensity

Abstract

Abstract This study investigated the effect of mood on the favourability of intergroup attitudes, and on two important components of intergroup attitudes, namely stereotypes and feelings (i.e. emotional associates) toward social groups. In addition, the individual difference variable of affect intensity (AIM, Larsen and Diener, 1987) was considered as a potential moderating variable. With high AIMs expected to demonstrate more pronounced mood‐judgment effects. After a musical mood induction, subjects completed measures assessing attitudes, stereotypes, and feelings toward French Canadians and Pakistanis. The results revealed that mood influenced attitudes. Stereotypes, and feelings toward the groups, but only for high AIMs. The implications of the findings for future research are discussed.