MOOD AND POSITIVE EXPECTATIONS

Abstract

The relationships between expectations and the major mood dimensions of hedonic tone, activity level and tension were investigated. It was hypothesized that expectations of positive events should create a pleasant and active mood while negative expectations should give an unpleasant and tense mood Furthermore, it was also assumed that values and beliefs should determine mood mainly through their products. The hypotheses were partly confirmed in a group of subjects who rated their mood and expectations one week, and one night, before going on a vacation journey to a distant country. It was found that negative aspects of the events anticipated tended to have stronger impact on mood than positive ones. Since the momentary ratings of mood also correlated with general mood levels, general optimism and extraneous factors, it was suggested that mood is influenced by several factors on different levels of processing.