Influence of the mood state on the suppression of images

Abstract

The aim of this paper has been to study the influence of an induced negative mood state on the suppression of mood-congruent negative images. Sixty-two nonclinical subjects participated in the experiment which had two parts: (1) mood induction and (2) thought suppression experiment. In the suppression experiment, the subjects were instructed to report along three periods (base-line monitoring, experimental instruction suppress vs. monitor, and monitoring) the occurrences of a “negative image”, previously presented (5 m.). Subjects were randomly assigned to four groups: non induction, non suppression; non induction, suppression; induction, non suppression; and induction, suppression. The results revealed neither immediate nor delayed frequency increases in the target image, and the response pattern to all the variables assessed (frequency of intrusions, subjective success after suppression efforts, discomfort by the intrusions) was equivalent in all subjects, irrespective of the experimental condition in which they were ascribed.