The Effect of Mood on Cognition

8/4/2014

Moods, particularly good ones, can cause us to over-rely on heuristics. Over-rely on

heuristics in another word means short cut. So, it is same no matter it is positive or negative.

We speak about anger, anger act as a short cut for negative memory or sad memory. The

emotion like sadness can recall back our old painful memories that were especially painful.

It all started about four years ago when I was 15 years old. It was during my school break for

two months. Our school's band planned to go somewhere to celebrate our victory of our

marching band competition. After going through several discussions, we decided to go

Genting highlands. I was very excited as I never been there before. Besides, it was also my

first time hanging out with friends to somewhere far from my hometown. For me this

holiday will just be very meaningful and memorable. When we arrived there, I felt like I was

stepping into the heaven as the weather was so cold.

We entered Genting Outdoor Theme Park. We had fun taking a leisure ride about 4 minutes

in the outdoor Ferris wheel called Matahari. While on the Ferris wheel, my best friend and I

enjoy the actually bought some beverages so we can enjoy our drink while on the Ferris

wheel. It was so Relaxing and fun. Meanwhile, my friend, Joseph, invited me to play the

roller coaster with him. I was feeling quite shy because we don’t talk often and were not

very close. Besides that I was feeling quite embarrassed because he ignored my friends and

only invited me so my friends were giving me the teasing look. Although it was quite

awkward in the beginning, but I was starting to enjoy myself with Joseph, and we ride on

the roller coaster and other rides likes spinner, Corkscrew, Double Deck Carousel and

others.

Start from that moment, both of us started to have more communication with each other,

we frequently sent message to each other. One day, he sent me a strange message. It was a

confession message. The content was very direct and straightforward. He texted me with his

objective in his mind. He confessed to me as I never expected he will did that. I am being

very nervous to respond because I started to really like him but it was tough to reply

because my parent inhibit me to be in a relationship when I was still in secondary school.

They expect me to do well and focus in my study. Therefore, I was hesitating whether to

accept or reject him. It's took me almost one week’s time to think about it.

After a week, I decided to accept him. I no longer care about my parent’s advice. I don’t care

about whether they agree or disagree. I just want to enjoy the time that I spend with him. In

our relationships, we often want to share things with each other. We want each other to

know what we’re thinking and feeling. He would sweet-talk with me and treat me good.

Both of us were study together frequently when we were free. He always make time to try

to meet me no matter what condition. During that moment, I felt as if I am the happiest

women in the world.

I was with him for almost four months when his attitude started changing. I only get to see

and meet each him only when I ask him to come and meet me, and never the other way

around. What I want from a relationship in the early months of dating may be quite

different from what I want after I have been together for some time. I once had a

conversation with him when I texted him at the night and got no reply. Then I called him a

day later, and got no answer. I shot him a text and left a voicemail, and he texted back

apologizing for not answer but saying he hadn't realized it was me. A few days later, I tried

calling him again. Again, no answer. I realize that those were all was just an excuses.

I tried avoiding him, but I guess he likes it and wants some personal space. He didn’t call me.

I don't want to be the first one who makes the move anymore. I want him to start taking the

initiation in this relationship. But it's doesn't happened. Sometime after, he decided to break

up with me. He dropped the bomb when he was celebrating my birthday with me. The

reason he gave me was that he fell in love with another girl. I was very sad and feeling very

down. I felt I was nobody but a fool blinded by love, I believed him. No matter what he

asked from me, I would do. He knew I would do anything for him to not leave me and he

took advantage of it. Because of him, I disobeyed my parent advice, I argued with my

parents when they don’t allow me to hang out. That was my first time I ever disobey my

parent advice. I realised that I should obey my parents advised as it is for my own good.

Now whenever I go out with a guy, I will take a precaution. This is because when I think

about my ex, I regret wasting 4months of my life and in the end feel like a fool. I did nothing

but treat him right and all I got was pain. After that, it took sometime before I let myself fall

in love again and it’s just too bad because the right guy might be here for me, and the

incident that I experienced will make it hard for me to love another guy.

In conclusion, the effect of mood cognitive is based on mood over-rely on heuristics in

another word means short cut. So, it is same no matter it is positive or negative memory. In

this article, I speak about sadness, sad act as a short cut for negative memory and sad

memory. For example, I experienced about hurt by my ex-boyfriend. Therefore, once recall

back my old painful memories that were especially painful, I will recall back to these

memories.