IN DEFENSE OF THE VELTEN MOOD INDUCTION PROCEDURE

The purpose of the present studies was to challenge the view that the Velten mood induction procedure produces mood effects only through dem and 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 th e placebo conditions did not differ from each other or from the real n eutral 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 con ducted to rule out two alternative explanations of the results of Stud y 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.