What is mood in psychology. Psychology of mood

Is mood just a faint feeling? The various characteristics of mood cited above have become entrenched in the psychological literature with all the variety of their semantic meanings.

The most widely used was initially the interpretation of mood as a weakly expressed feeling.

However, guessing, probably, about the narrowness this definition, some scientists, for example, V. A. Artemov, somewhat expanded the scope of this formulation and spoke of such a feeling, which is diffuse in nature and can not only color behavior, but also capture the entire personality of a person. “Mood,” wrote V. A. Artemov, “we call a relatively weakly expressed feeling that captures the entire personality of a person for some time.

Feelings have the property of spreading and coloring all the activity and behavior of a person.

The inconsistency of this definition. The result was a contradictory definition. On the one hand, mood is a weakly expressed feeling, and on the other hand, it can not only color behavior, but also capture the entire personality of a person.

We see the inconsistency of the above definition in the combination of two particular, and, moreover, opposite in meaning, signs.

A mood, of course, can also be a weakly expressed feeling, but in this case it will be able, at best, only to color a person’s behavior, but not to capture the entire personality.

If the mood captures the whole personality of a person, then it turns out not to be a weakly expressed feeling, but, on the contrary, the most powerful experience of the personality.

The inconsistency of such an interpretation of mood has led to the fact that in psychological and other literature the understanding of mood has become established only as a weakly expressed, barely perceptible and multifaceted feeling without indicating its spilled and exciting character.

Towards a broader understanding of mood. The understanding of mood as the degree of excitation or expression of feelings, as their tone, is somewhat broader. This is how psychologist P. M. Yakobson defines mood, speaking of it as "emotional well-being."

More generalized and, perhaps, the most common in psychological and philosophical literature is the interpretation of mood as a state of feelings in general, regardless of the basis on which one state of feelings is distinguished from another - by the degree and strength of expression or by direction. Such a definition of mood can be found in the philosophical dictionary published in 1957 in Stuttgart (Germany). Mood is defined there as "the state of a person's feelings, which is highly variable and largely dependent on the state of health."

However, the considered definitions are not quite complete. Even more general is the description of mood given by the famous Soviet psychologist S. L. Rubinshtein, who considered mood as a diffuse emotional state of the individual.

“Mood,” wrote S. L. Rubinshtein, “is understood as the general emotional state of a person, expressed in the “order” of all its manifestations.”

Mood is the emotional state of a person. Given all of the above, we can give the following generalized characteristics of mood.

Being the emotional state of a person, mood can act in two forms: as a stable emotional state, which is generally characteristic of a given person, and as a changeable, transient mood, entirely due to a given set of circumstances.

In addition, the mood can be, by its nature, either a diffuse emotional state, coloring, and often even determining all the experiences of a person at a given moment, or localized, affecting only one group of mental components. In the latter case, one speaks either of the mood of the senses, or of the state of mind, or of the worldview.

The mood is qualitatively different from other components of the emotional sphere of the psyche.

Unlike emotions, fast-flowing, impulsive mental processes mood has a relatively greater stability, it is more complex than emotions.

Mood can be regarded as a well-known result of all mental experiences of a person, as a result of the struggle of heterogeneous and diverse feelings.

Unlike feelings, mood is more mobile.

Feelings are relatively stable formations, which, as a rule, are formed as a result of the accumulation, systematization and generalization of various specific experiences. To change the same mood is not necessary.

In its mobility, the mood differs from habits to an even greater extent than from feelings.
Based on the foregoing, mood can generally be defined as a multifaceted, localized or diffuse emotional state of a person, coloring or even determining at a given moment all other manifestations of her psyche.

What are the types of moods? There is a wide variety of them. It is not uncommon to hear the voiced idea that a person's mood changes several times a day. People are sometimes so unstable mentally that it becomes difficult for them to control themselves.

A person's mood is closely related to emotions. The more stable they are, the more confident and comfortable the person feels. What is the person's mood? We will consider this difficult question in this article.

Joy

This type of mood is characterized by elation of feelings, a sense of positivity. A person internally feels favorable, ready to solve the necessary tasks. The future does not cause him a state of fear, suspiciousness or anxiety. Being in joy, living it with his own feelings, a person freely reveals his emotions. This mood can be called complete satisfaction. A person openly communicates with others and shares with them his positive, which is literally reflected in the eyes. You can always notice from the outside that there is someone in a good mood next to you. He becomes the sun that shines and warms everything around.

Joy helps to cure many different ailments. After all, when a person is in a good mood, all kinds of diseases recede, go away under the influence of positive emotions. It depends on the personality itself, what kind of mood she has.

Sadness

This type of mood is characterized by increased emotional sensitivity. In a state of sadness, a person feels depressed, unnecessary, sometimes even rejected. If a person is “stuck” in this mood, sometimes you need to try to cheer him up, console him. In some cases, sadness can be in the nature of deep reflection, and then the person really needs to be alone. The sensitivity and delicacy of others will help to understand what the mood of their loved ones and relatives is like.

You can not try to force a person out of this state. Sadness can't last too long. It is necessary to rethink significant contradictions, internal conflicts. In the case when sadness is of a protracted nature, we can talk about the onset of depression. What is the mood of a gloomy person? Of course, depressed, he is most often unfriendly and silent.

Inspiration

This state is characterized by a sense of integrity with oneself and the world around. This mood can be called rosy, in which various ideas easily come to mind and there is a strong desire to bring them to life. Inspiration seems to lift a person above the world, he feels bold, courageous and strong. In this state, a person is able to perform real feats, to be as useful as possible to himself and others.

How to understand that a person is in the mood of a conqueror of peaks? He smiles endlessly, feels confident and light, has positive conversations, from which you involuntarily recharge with optimism! What is the mood most often in such a person? Light, bright, sublime! It is not difficult for him to reach the sky with his hand, and it is not difficult to put a star in his palm!

Anxiety

This condition is characterized by strong internal suspiciousness, discomfort and constant fear of experiencing something negative. People in whom this type of mood prevails are most often suspicious, unfriendly, withdrawn and unsociable. It is difficult to persuade them to some kind of meeting that is clearly not interesting to them, they do not want to undertake extra effort. Needless to say, they rarely set realistic goals for themselves, and if they have them in their souls, they do not at all strive to realize them. All because they do not believe in themselves, in the very prospect of becoming successful person. What is their mood like? It just doesn't exist. Well, if this is a temporary phenomenon, which after a few hours is replaced by self-acceptance. But this is not always the case.

Thus, we have considered the question of what mood is. The list can be continued indefinitely. The main thing, perhaps, is not to get stuck in negative emotions Don't give in to destructive thoughts. Don't hang out with people who are always complaining about something. On the contrary, you need to fill yourself with joy and positivity every day.

Mood is a general emotional state that colors mental processes and human behavior for a certain time.

The mood is given out by movements, posture, posture, hands. In a good mood, the hands are calm, confident, no unnecessary movements, in a bad mood, they are linked, clenched into fists. The mood is reflected in the appearance. If a person is sad, a stoop appears, shoulders drop, arms hang limply along the body. In the eyes of anxiety or apathy, indifference.

When the mood is cheerful, upbeat, the shoulders are straightened, the figure becomes, as it were, taller, the look is sharp, the gait is resolute, the movements are precise and prudent. The man is filled with power, and it is immediately evident.

The mood is caused both by various events that have a certain significance for a person, and by physical well-being.

A lot depends on what physical state you are in at that moment, the same factor in one case can be neutral for us, we simply don’t notice it, in another it will cause anger, spoil the mood.

A good mood has a positive effect on blood circulation and improves skin vitality, a bad mood inhibits the stimulating functions of the skin, its nutrition.

The mood has a "spreadability". A person suffering from a bad mood often spreads this "disease". This is especially noticeable when a female leader becomes its carrier. However, the “bacilli” of a bad mood should only be started to sow. The main thing is that the "sower" does not get better from this, as a rule. Therefore, try to suppress a bad mood, negative emotions. And as you educate yourself, educate yourself. Learn to take care of yourself. It is very important not to let fatigue build up. It is she who leads to loss of control, irritability, incontinence.

Having created a good mood, try to keep it during the day.

It is necessary to systematically train the state inherent in a good mood, facial expression, voice, behavior.

We get a positive emotional charge by visiting the theater or art gallery watching a play or movie. Moreover, in most cases, the very expectation of something important, necessary, interesting causes a good mood.

It has been noticed that cheerful, cheerful people retain youth, good spirits, and charm for a long time. Don't forget about it. And don't be afraid to show your good mood. Often we are afraid to do this, and in a good mood we speak in a habitually sluggish voice, look with a dull look, and frown. As a result, gradually a good mood somehow disappears by itself, the mental state changes, it begins to correspond to ours. appearance. Therefore, we must learn to act differently. Even if it is difficult, not to succumb to emotions, to hold on with dignity both internally and externally.

Mood (English mood)- one of the forms of human emotional life. Mood is a more or less stable, prolonged, without a certain intention emotional state of a person, coloring for some time all his experiences.

Mood influences to varying degrees on all mental processes occurring in a given segment of a person's life. Unlike feelings, which are always directed to one or another object (present, future, past), N., being often caused by a specific reason, a specific reason, manifests itself in the features of a person’s emotional response to influences of any nature.

The mood is characterized by an emotional tone (positive - cheerful, cheerful, high, or negative - sad, depressed, low), as well as different dynamics. Relatively stable N. arises as a result of the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of essential requests and aspirations of a person. Among the factors that determine individual differences in people with regard to the speed of mood changes and other features of it, an important place is occupied by the characteristics of temperament.

Psychological dictionary. A.V. Petrovsky M.G. Yaroshevsky

Mood- relatively long, stable emotional states of moderate or low intensity, manifesting themselves as a general background in the mental life of an individual and ensuring the predominance of emotions of a certain modality in it (cf. joyful, sad, mocking N.). Usually the mood is formed under the influence of certain life events - successes, meetings, decisions taken etc., but unlike situational emotions and affects, N. represent an emotional reaction not to the immediate consequences of such events, but to their significance in the context of more general life plans, interests and expectations of a person. Therefore, N. are not objective, but personal, they are distinguished by inertness, diffuseness, and the absence of a focus on specific phenomena, a generalized address to all life, to other people, or to one's own destiny. Influencing the nature and intensity of immediate emotional reactions to ongoing events, formed N. functionally manifest themselves as a mechanism for background regulation of activity that can change Perception (see. Perception social), the direction of thoughts and behavior of a person. Both the N. themselves and their causes can be perceived by a person with varying degrees of distinctness - from a subjectively non-reflective emotional background of activity to clearly identifiable states. The ability to control one's own N., to find and assimilate ways of their conscious correction (see Self-regulation) is an important task of education and self-education.

Unreasonable mood swings can be pathological in origin (see. Depression , Euphoria) and be conditioned by the natural constitution of man (see. character accentuation, Psychopathy).

Dictionary of psychiatric terms. V.M. Bleikher, I.V. Crook

Mood- the total characteristic of the emotional state of a person in a certain period. In some cases, the term is used to characterize the dominant type of affectivity for a given person. N. can be smooth (eithymic), elevated (hyperthymic), lowered (hypothymic), anxious, etc. The general background of mood is largely determined by the course of a number of mental processes, including thinking (see. Holothymia , Golotimal thinking).

Neurology. Complete explanatory dictionary. Nikiforov A.S.

Mood- the predominant emotional state (cheerful, sad, anxious, etc.), affecting the state of mental activity and physical activity.

Oxford Dictionary of Psychology

Mood

  1. Any relatively short-lived, low-intensity emotional state. Used freely.
  2. Relatively comprehensive and stable emotional state. Although this value is clearly in conflict with the value 1, it is in this sense that it is used in the latest edition of the DSM and is reflected in the general diagnostic class of mood disorders.

subject area of ​​the term

A GOOD MOOD (high)- a pleasant feeling of relaxation and euphoria that follows after taking certain drugs.

Euthymic mood- normal mood, in which there is neither a reduced level of emotions, nor an overly excited state.

The total characteristic of the emotional state of a person in a certain period. In some cases, the term is used to characterize the dominant type of affectivity for a given person. N. can be smooth (eithymic), elevated (hyperthymic), lowered (hypothymic), anxious, etc. The general background of mood is largely determined by the course of a number of mental processes, including thinking (see Holothymia, Holothymic Thinking.

MOOD

an emotional state that is characterized by diffuseness, the absence of a clear conscious attachment to certain objects or processes, and sufficient stability, which allows us to consider mood as a separate indicator of temperament. The basis of a particular mood is an emotional tone, positive or negative.

MOOD (ICD 295; 296; 301.1; 310.2)

a predominant and enduring state of feeling which, to an extreme or pathological degree, may dominate the outward behavior and inward state of the individual.

MOOD

relatively long, stable mental states of moderate or low intensity, manifested as a positive or negative emotional background of the individual's mental life. They are characterized by diffuseness, the absence of a clear conscious attachment to certain objects or processes, and sufficient stability, which makes it possible to consider mood as a separate indicator of temperament. Unlike situational emotions and affects, it is an emotional reaction not to the immediate consequences of specific events, but to their significance for the subject in the context of general life plans, interests and expectations. Formed moods, in turn, are able to influence emotional reactions in connection with ongoing events, respectively changing the direction of thoughts, perception (-> social perception) and behavior.

Depending on the degree of awareness of the causes that caused a particular mood, it is experienced either as an undifferentiated general emotional background (elated, depressed mood, etc.), or as a clearly identifiable state (boredom, sadness, melancholy, fear, or enthusiasm, joy, delight etc.).

The ability to control mood, find and learn ways to consciously correct it (-> self-regulation) is an important task of education and self-education. Causeless mood swings can have a pathological origin, due to such mental properties as increased anxiety, instability, emotionality, etc. (-> character: accentuation; feeling).

MOOD

relatively long, stable mental states of moderate or low intensity, manifesting themselves as a positive or negative emotional background in the mental life of an individual.

MOOD

English Mood) is one of the forms of human emotional life. N. is called a more or less stable, prolonged, without a certain intention emotional state of a person, coloring for some time all his experiences.

N. affects to varying degrees on all mental processes occurring in a given segment of a person's life. Unlike feelings, which are always directed to one or another object (present, future, past), N., being often caused by a specific reason, a specific reason, manifests itself in the features of a person’s emotional response to influences of any nature.

N. is characterized by an emotional tone (positive - cheerful, cheerful, elevated or negative - sad, depressed, reduced), as well as different dynamics. Relatively stable N. arises as a result of the satisfaction or dissatisfaction of essential requests and aspirations of a person. Among the factors that determine the individual differences of people in relation to the speed of change of N. and other features of it, an important place is occupied by the characteristics of temperament.

MOOD

A temporary but relatively stable complex mental state containing several components: a predominant emotional coloring (affective component), a narrowing of mental content and a change in certain aspects of thinking within the framework of a secondary process (cognitive component), a tendency to certain actions (behavioral component). Mood changes in response to internal or external, conscious or unconscious psychophysiological events; it differs from what is generally habitual for a given individual.

The most striking sign of mood is the affective component, experienced subjectively and, as a rule, accessible to objective observation. Affective mood signs may be fleeting, but they usually last for hours or days. On the scale of feelings, simple affects would be located at one pole, moods in the middle, and more complex and prolonged affective phenomena, such as love, loyalty, patriotism, at the other pole. Moods are dynamic mental constellations that contain, regulate, link, and express a complex mixture of affects. Within the framework of the structural approach, mood can be seen as an attempt by the self to integrate and control affective responses to the demands of the id, superego, and reality. In an economic sense, the structure of mood regulates the manifestation of repetitive small amounts of affects, thereby preventing the possibility of an explosive, potentially uncontrollable discharge. Moods, like symptoms, play the role of a compromise, while protecting against strong affects arising from the conflict, and allowing their softened manifestation.

The cognitive component of mood qualitatively colors secondary process thinking and mental content. V structurally mood threatens the activities of the ego, especially its ability to accurately assess the internal and external reality. Mood changes the nature of representations of the Self and objects. For example, in a depressed mood, a person may consider himself a nonentity and think that other people are not at all interested in him. He, in a state of spiritual uplift, can consider himself capable of overcoming any obstacles and spreading his optimism to the whole world. This selectivity of perception impairs reality testing. At the same time, selective concentration on ideas, memories, attitudes, beliefs, assessments and expectations in harmony with the sensual tone and the exclusion of dissonant mental content enhance and preserve the mood. This gives the mood a global and all-encompassing character.

The behavioral component of mood is revealed in individual behavioral actions, inaction, or patterns of motor activity. The disorganized hyperactivity of the maniac, the loquacity of the hypomanic person, the psychomotor retardation of the depressed person, the productivity in the "work mood" are all examples of the behavioral component. Mood can color the entire behavioral repertoire of an individual, including character traits that are usually considered rigid and fixed. Behavior influences others whose reactions reinforce the validity of the sentiment.

Psychoanalysts' reflections on the origin of early, basal, and individual moods have addressed both innate factors and experiential variables. It is clear that different children are predisposed to different moods, and the phases of normal childhood development are associated with characteristic moods (e.g., high spirits between ten and eleven months, associated with what Greenacre (1957) called "loving relationships with the world"). There is a connection between depression and the real or imagined loss of an object at an early age (arising in the context of the child-mother relationship); this relationship is especially evident in the subphases of separation-individuation of the second and third years of life. Repressed early experiences of frustration/deprivation or satisfaction, as well as some other events and traumas, serve as archaic foci (points of fixation) around which violent affective reactions are organized. When current experiences are associated with these fixation points, a complex psychological response called mood is induced. As Jacobson (1971) points out, emotional experience, acting as a mood trigger, can be completely internal (carried out through mental or neuroelectrochemical processes) or external (associated with current life experience). It can be conscious or unconscious, oriented either to reality or to associations with conscious or unconscious memories.

Mood

Specificity. It is characterized by diffuseness, the absence of a clear conscious attachment to certain objects or processes, and sufficient stability, which allows us to consider mood as a separate indicator of temperament. The basis of a particular mood is an emotional tone, positive or negative.

MOOD

1. Any relatively short, low-intensity emotional state. Used freely. 2. Relatively comprehensive and stable emotional state. Although this value is clearly in conflict with value 1, it is in this sense that it is used in the latest edition of the DSM and is reflected in the general diagnostic class of mood disorders.

mood

a stable, relatively long-term mental state of an individual or a group of people, creating a general emotional background for the flow of all mental processes. The degree of meaningfulness, differentiation n. it can be different: from an undifferentiated sthenic or asthenic experience to such clearly expressed forms of mental reflection as boredom, sadness, grief, melancholy, fear, despair, enthusiasm, glee, joy, delight, hope, etc.

MOOD

relatively long, stable emotional states of moderate or low intensity, manifesting themselves as a general background in the mental life of an individual and ensuring the predominance of emotions of a certain modality in it (cf. joyful, sad, mocking N.). N. are formed under the influence of individual life events - successes, meetings, decisions made, etc., but unlike situational emotions and affects, N. represent an emotional reaction not to the immediate consequences of events, but to their meaning in the context of more general life plans, interests and expectations of a person. Therefore, N. are not objective, but personal. They are distinguished by inertness, diffuseness, lack of focus on specific phenomena, generalized addressing to all life, to other people or one's own destiny. Influencing the nature of immediate emotional reactions to ongoing events, formed N. functionally manifest themselves as a mechanism for background regulation of activity that can change the perception, direction of thoughts, and behavior of a person. N. and their causes can be realized with varying degrees of distinctness - from subjectively non-reflective emotional background of activity to clearly identifiable states. Unreasonable fluctuations of N. can have a pathological origin and be caused by the natural constitution of the person. The N. of a person has a significant impact on his behavior in conflicts. Accounting for N. interaction partners contributes to the prevention of conflicts. Mastering the primary skills of N. self-regulation is a necessary element of the psychological culture of a person, especially a conflictologist. Cheerfulness, goodwill, calmness are the most important characteristics of N., which need constant conscious formation.