Abstract:
This research examined the correlation between mood and memory, and more specifically, how
depression impacts false memory. Previous research has shown that lower mood (depression) is
related to poorer memory for negative events than positive or neutral events (Joormann,
Teachman, & Gotlib, 2009 & Mortitz et al., 2005). The purpose of this study was to replicate and
extend these results by testing participants' memories for events that have been inferred from
short vignettes, instead of recognition of individual words. Participants were asked to complete
the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, Ward, Mendelson, Mock, & Erbaugh, J., 1961), read
vignettes that are positive, negative, or neutral, and answer true-false questions after the
vignettes. A positive correlation between mood and memory for negative vignettes, with higher
levels of depression predicting higher levels of false memory on the negative true-false
questions, was expected. Finally, a negative correlation between mood and memory for factual
questions, with higher levels of depression predicting lower scores on the true-false factual
questions was predicted. No hypotheses were supported in the study.
