Mood Incongruent Recall: An Examination of Mediating Variables

Abstract

Although the mood-memory relationship can account for the occurrence of mood congruent recall, it cannot account for the occurrence of mood incongruent recall. Mood incongruent recall is an important mechanism for recovering from depression. The present paper examines several mediating variables of the mood-memory relationship that may explain the occurrence of mood incongruent recall. These mediating variables are motivation, depressives vs. non-depressives, and self complexity. The present paper aims to provide a better understanding of the complex mechanisms behind mood incongruent recall and point to a potentially promising line of research. In the end, the paper discusses the practical implications of the findings for depression.