The role of affective states on cognitive processes of assimilation and accommodation

Abstract

This study investigated whether a positive mood induces the activation of previously acquired knowledge (assimilative function) and whether a negative mood triggers data-driven cognitive processing (accommodative function). The sample was composed of 32 female and male individuals, between 17 and 38 years of age. The experiment tested active generation effect of knowledge. Initially, positive and negative moods were induced in the participants. The final task consisted of freely recalling a previously presented list of complete words (favoring data-driven processing) or incomplete ones (favoring cognitive processes driven by previous knowledge through active generation). The participants recalled more words completed by them during the coding stage (active generation effect) under a positive mood, suggesting the prevalence of assimilative functions. Under a negative mood however, they recalled more complete words provided by the researcher, indicating a predominance of accommodative functions. The studys results suggest that affective states act upon the selection and regulation of cognitive processes of assimilation and accommodation.