Microsoft Word Chapter 1 done doc

4.4 AFFECT AND COGNITION : 
 
In this section we shall discuss the complex relationship 
between affect and cognition. Cognition involves thinking, decision 

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making, etc., whereas affect is expression of mood, a feeling state. 
Thought these two are independent systems of mind, their interplay 
has been a matter of extensive research. Affect influences 
cognition and cognition also influences affect. We shall discuss 
both in detail.
4.4.1 Influence of Affect on Cognition : 
Our mood influences perceptions of the world around. When 
we are in sad mood, everything just looks gloomy to us, whereas 
when we are in cheerful mood, everything seems to be brighter 
than usual. Mood influences our memory, judgments, perceptions 
and many other aspects of cognition. Researchers have found that 
even experienced interviewers are influenced by their mood while 
evaluating the candidates. Mood in general is seen as a mediatory 
mechanism that influences cognition.
The impact of mood on memory is very well researched. 
There are two important effects that have been found in this 
connection. They are mood congruent memory and mood 
dependent memory. Mood dependent memory refers to the idea 
that the material can be better recalled in the mood in which the 
material is learned. (Earlier it was also known as state dependent 
hypothesis). If we learn (i.e., store in memory) something in positive 
mood, then we are more likely to recall it in positive mood (Figure 
2). The mood in which the material was stored serves as a tag and 
the current mood serves as a retrieval cue. This is called as a mood 
dependent memory.
The mood congruent memory refers to the phenomenon 
that the present mood determines what would be recalled (Figure 
3). If you are in positive mood then the positive information would 
be entered in the memory and recalled form the memory. If you are 
in the negative mood then the negative information will be easily 
recalled. So the information consistent (congruent) with the present 
mood is recalled. Here mood serves as a filter.