DEFENSIVE PESSIMISM AND OPTIMISM - THE BITTER-SWEET INFLUENCE OF MOODON PERFORMANCE AND PREFACTUAL AND COUNTERFACTUAL THINKING

Three studies demonstrated that manipulated moods influence the prefac tual (alternative preoutcome predictions) and counterfactual (alternat ive postoutcome ''what might have beens'') mental simulations of defen sive pessimists and optimists. In Study 1, negative moods induced more upward (better than expected) prefactuals, and defensive pessimists p erformed best under such conditions; optimists performed best under in duced positive moods, after which they used little prefactual thinking . In Studies 2 and 3, manipulated moods again influenced the strategie s of defensive pessimists and optimists. In Study 2, optimists respond ed with more downward (worse than actuality) counterfactuals, suggesti ng attempts at mood repair. In Study 3, defensive pessimists and optim ists each coped effectively by using preferred mental simulation strat egies; both groups rebounded on a second task from poor performances o n a first task.