Mood-Congruent Self-Schema

Mood-congruent self-schema describes the influence of our current emotional state on which aspects of our self-concept are easiest to access. Our mood can make self-related memories, beliefs, and judgments with a similar emotional tone more readily available. When feeling depressed, for example, we may more easily remember failures, disappointments, or negative beliefs about ourselves. When feeling happy or optimistic, achievements and positive self-perceptions may come more readily to mind. Mood-congruent self-schemas can contribute to cognitive distortions when the information most accessible in the moment is mistaken for a complete or accurate picture of who we are.