Affect Infusion Model (AIM)

An integrative theory explaining how affective states influence social judgments. The Affect Infusion Model (AIM) proposes a multiprocess approach to social judgments and identifies 4 alternative judgmental strategies: (a) direct access, (b) motivated, (c) heuristic and (d) substantive processing. The model predicts that the degree of affect infusion into judgments varies along a processing continuum, such that judgments requiring heuristic or substantive processing are more likely to be infused by affect than are direct access or motivated judgments.

People use their mood states to judge others or situations, especially when they lack enough information or details of the person/situation they are assessing. People are influenced by their moods when the situation is complex or when the task is demanding.

Reference:

Forgas, J. P. (1995). Mood and judgment: the affect infusion model (AIM). Psychological Bulletin, 117(1), 39-66. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0033-2909.117.1.39