The purpose of the present studies was to challenge the view that the Velten mood induction procedures mood effects only through demand characteristics. In study 1, placebo conditions were created using the neutral Velten mood manipulation with instructions to subjects to feel either a positive or a negative mood. The results showed that the placebo conditions did not differ from each other or form the real neutral Velten condition. Only when the real Velten manipulations were used were significant differences found between positive and negative mood conditions in depression, anxiety, and hostility. Study 2 was conducted to rule out two alternative explanations of the results of Study 1. The results of both studies lead to the conclusion that the mood effects of the Velten are genuine and not simply the product of demand characteristics. (A)
Abstract