This volume investigates the fundamental question of how affective states, such as moods and emotions, influence the cognitive processes that underpin social judgment and behavior. Joseph P. Forgas, a prominent researcher in social psychology, synthesizes decades of empirical research to argue that affect is not merely a byproduct of social interaction but a primary driver of information processing. The book presents a comprehensive framework detailing how transient feelings shape the way individuals perceive, interpret, and respond to their social environments.

Experts in the field recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intersection of emotion and cognition. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is tailored for researchers and advanced students of social psychology.