mood-congruent memory
consistency between one’s mood state and the emotional context of memories recalled. During positive mood states, individuals will tend to retrieve pleasant memories, whereas during negative mood states, negative thoughts and associations will more likely come to mind. However, there is evidence that the effects of these different mood states on memory are asymmetrical, with positive moods having stronger effects on memory retrieval than negative moods. When faced with an unpleasant emotional state, individuals may regulate it by retrieving pleasant thoughts and memories, thus reducing or reversing a negative mood-congruency effect. [first proposed in 1985 by U.S. social psychologist Alice M. Isen (1942–2012)]