Naturally occurring mood and learning: Comment on Hasher, Rose, Zacks, Sanft, and Doren.

Comments on the failure of L. Hasher et al (see record 1986-03061-001) to find mood-congruent learning (MCL), which occurs when Ss learn more about materials that are congruent with their moods (e.g., depressed Ss learn more sad material). Hasher et al argued that moderately depressed college students may be qualitatively different from clinically depressed patients and mood-induced Ss, in whom MCL has been observed. Although the present authors accept the findings of Hasher et al, they suggest that MCL may be a general though small effect that is present among normal college students as well. (54 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)