Induction and reversal of depression, anxiety, and hostility

Anxiety, hostility, and depression were induced and reversed by use of the Velton (1968) Mood Induction Procedure. Forty subjects were assigned randomly to one of four induction groups: Anxiety, Depression, Hostility, or Neutral. Mood states, measured by the Multiple Affect Adjective Check List (MAACL) were obtained before induction, after induction, and after reversal of moods. All mood induction treatments increased levels of all moods, but did not differentially increase a specific mood. Induced moods were reversed by using statements opposite to the induction ones. Mood induction was not correlated with previously administered Internal-External Locus of Control and Profile of Mood States questionnaires, but a high baseline MAACL score was correlated with low mood induction. Questions amenable to future research were raised.