"I couldn't possibly fail to disagree with you less."
23 August 2004Surly is as surly doesThe Journal of Experimental Social Psychology reports that if you're in a negative mood, you're a more reliable eyewitness than another observer who might be bright and chirpy. Professor Joseph Forgas of the University of New South Wales says:
Our recollection of past events [is] more likely to be contaminated by irrelevant information when we are in a positive mood. A positive mood is likely to trigger less careful thinking strategies.
A further experiment suggests that people in a bad mood demonstrate more effective critical thinking and communication skills. Again, Professor Forgas:
This supports the idea that mood states are evolutionary signals about how to deal with threatening situations. That is, a negative mood state triggers more systematic, more attentive, more vigilant information processing.
By contrast, good moods signal a benign, non-threatening environment where we don't need to be so vigilant. Remind me to post a copy of this report at work. (Via Fark) Erm. Post a copy of this at work. :) Posted by: unimpressed at 2:22 PM on 23 August 2004Got there, did that. Ultimate impact remains to be seen. Posted by: CGHill at 4:22 PM on 23 August 2004 |