Affect and Processing of Information
A number of theories have been proposed relating moods to differences in
how information is attended to and processed. Two predominant theories
that serve as the basis for many current conceptions are the resource alloca-
tion model (Ellis & Ashbrook, 1988), which makes hypotheses regarding dif-
fering cognitive capacities based on affect, and the affect-as-information
model (Schwarz, 1990), which makes hypotheses regarding motivational rea-
sons for the differential effects of mood on cognitive processing.
The resource allocation model focuses on differences in cognitive capacity
based on affect. This theory was initially developed to consider the effect of
depressed mood on cognitive processing (Ellis & Ashbrook, 1988); however,
the results have been replicated for both positive and negative moods (Ellis,
Seibert, & Varner, 1995). The theory suggests that cognitive capacity is lim-
ited when one is in a depressed or happy mood state. In essence, being in a
positive or negative mood results in task-irrelevant processing that clutters
working memory, making it more difficult to attend to the current task.
Thus, according to the resource allocation model, both positive and negative
moods result in increased task-irrelevant thoughts, which in turn overload
working memory functioning. The detrimental effects of mood on cognitive
processing are expected for complex tasks that require high levels of cognitive
processing; simple tasks that do not require extensive use of working memory
should not be affected by one’s current mood state. While the resource allo-
cation model does not consider arousal in addition to valence, the suggestion
that affect is only detrimental for tasks that require high levels of cognitive
processing is consistent with Revelle and Loftus’ (1990) argument that
arousal facilitates working memory functioning for low-load tasks and hin-
ders processing for high-load tasks. Therefore, we might expect that it is im-
portant to consider both arousal and valence in examining the way in which
affect relates to cognitive processing.
More recent research regarding the relation of affect and cognitive proc-
essing has challenged the resource allocation model, particularly the idea that
positive affect is detrimental to cognitive processing (e.g., Bless et al., 1996).
That is, Bless et al. (1996) found that people in a positive mood used more
heuristic processing and, as a result, actually performed better on a secondary
task. This suggests that positive moods may actually be adaptive in terms of
working memory functioning rather than maladaptive as is suggested by the
resource allocation model. Bless et al. (1996) did not consider arousal, so it is
not clear whether Revelle and Loftus’ (1990) ideas regarding arousal are also
brought into question.
A second prominent theory regarding the effect of mood on cognitive
processing is Schwarz’s (1990) affect-as-information theory. According to
this theory, a negative mood state signals that there is a problem that needs
62 LINNENBRINK AND PINTRICH