Why being moody could be a sign of adaptability

MOODY individuals who ride an emotional rollercoaster may be exhibiting a natural ability to adapt to change.

Picture: Pamela Grigg

According to a new theory, moodiness helps to reinforce our responses to positive or negative environmental factors.

If an experience makes us happy, we are going to seek more of it. In contrast, we are likely to avoid something unpleasant that brings us down.

From the point of view of survival, both reactions are useful. The psychologists behind the theory cite the example of unexpected gains on the stock market improving a trader’s mood.

That positive feeling, enhanced if the trader is a moodier person, may then lead to more risk-taking and swift adaptation to a rising market.

The findings are published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.