Affect (Mood States), Assessment of

Robert J. Craig

In psychology, the term mood refers to a person's emotional state. Mood is central to psychological health, and disturbances in mood are related to subsequent psychological maladjustment. Moods such as elation, joyfulness, and excitement, when experienced within normal ranges, enhance a person's life and are associated with well-being. Moods such as anger, hostility, depression, and mania are negative emotions. When these moods are experienced outside of the normal range or when a person no longer has control over these moods, psychological disturbances appear in behavior. While it is normal for persons to experience anger, irritation, or sadness based on external events, these emotions can become extreme, leading to the need for psychological intervention. A client's mood permeates almost any aspect of psychological intervention, and hence a reliable assessment of mood is part of the psychologist's armamentarium. The most common methods of assessing mood are the clinical interview and the use ...

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