Affect - The Observable Display of Feelings; Quarreling, Crying, Weeping, etc.

Written by: Martin Winkler

First version: 22 Jul 2008. Latest revision: 23 Aug 2008.

Abstract:
The display of subjective emotions such as fear, anger, joy.

Question:

What is affect?

Answer:

The word Affect is in psychology and psychiatry used to described observable behaviour that represents the expression of a subjectively experienced feeling state (emotion). Common examples of affect are

sadness,
fear,
joy,
anger.

The normal range of expressed affect varies considerably between different cultures and even within the same culture.

Types of affect include:

euthymic,
irritable,
constricted,
blunted,
flat,
inappropriate,
labile.

Euthymic mood would be considered as the "normal" stable mood without complaints.

Affective Disorders are mental health disorders with observable alteration of affect (mood). This would include Major Depression, Dysthymia / Cyclothymia, Bipolar disorder and Adjustment disorders and a broader category of depressive symptoms, which do not fit in the classical categories of mood disorders (Depressive disorders not otherwise specified).

More Information

Confusing other real feelings with hunger Eating when you are tired Buying things you do not need Loneliness Crisis of life Feelings of guilt and shame Anger management Ways to avoid understanding oneself Articles about Feelings, Hunger, Emotions

Pages of interest from other web sites

Terms in the field of Psychiatry and Neurology

Sources, references

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