Indeed, when happy participants are made aware that additional care is necessary on a given task, they can perform equally as well as unhappy participants (Bless et al., 1990; Bodenhausen, Kramer, & Süsser, 1994). Thus, it appears that depending on the situation, positive emotions can either facilitate or hamper mental judgments. In sum, it appears that people experiencing positive emotions use more cooperative strategies when negotiating, have more favorable perceptions of themselves and others, are more self-efficacious, and are more willing and able to help. They also tend to think more creatively and flexibly as well as to engage in and explore their environment to a greater degree. Although the evidence is somewhat mixed regarding the role of positive emotions in mental judgments, it appears that positive affect can facilitate mental functioning in certain contexts.