The Compensatory Nature of Mood: A Single-Subject Time-Series Approach

In this study we investigated the nature of mood alteration over time on a day-by-day basis. Two subjects served in time-locked single-subject designs, and systematically recorded their moods over ten weeks. The major findings of this study are the following: 1) pleasant and unpleasant mood were found to be negatively correlated over time; 2) a measure of hedonic level deriving from Larsen and one of pleasure (P) deriving from Russell et al. were found to covary lawfully over time; 3) although individually-specific, common cyclical mood fluctuations were uncovered, indicating a cyclical, reciprocal inhibition of mood.