Mental states of man: classification

Mental states (PS) are called stable in a certain period of time characteristics of the mental activity of man (or animal). Human PS are an intermediate position between personal psychic properties that are stable and stable, and mental processes occurring at a particular time. PS can last for months, but under favorable conditions they change rapidly. Usually a mental state is understood as any energy characteristic that affects human activity - fatigue, vigor, euphoria, depression, apathy.

What are mental states?

Psychic states are integral characteristics of mental activity in a certain period of time. They accompany human life, constantly changing, in its relations with society, people, etc. Any PS consists of three common for all dimensions:

- motivational and motivational,

- emotionally appraising,

- activation and energy.

The first dimension is the defining one.

There are also "mass" PS, that is, the states common to certain groups of people. In the scientific literature, consider two such states - the public mood and public opinion.

A human being's PS can be characterized by mobility, integrity, relative stability, polarity, typicality and individual originality, interrelation with the properties and processes of personality and extreme diversity.

Classification of mental states

Modern science distinguishes monosostoyaniya and polisostoyaniya. The first can be characterized by the fact that one or two manifestations are dominant at a certain point in time: these can be intellectual states (reverie, doubts), affective states (anger, fear, envy). The latter are complex multicomponent combinations (fatigue, responsibility).

The mental states of a person are different in duration: lasting several seconds-minutes - operational; Running hours-days-current; The last weeks, months, even years, are long.

There are different kinds of mental states of norm and pathology. PS norms are characterized by the repetitiveness of structural characteristics, balance, unity, subordination, and here can be attributed adequacy of mental regulation and reflection. In other words, they are harmonic states. If violations occur in the above characteristics, this leads to the appearance of pathologies. Separately allocated border states - psychopathy, neuroses.

PS can also be positive and negative - on the quality of the impact on performance.

There are also classifications in which as classifiable formations are:

- levels of mental activity of consciousness,

- levels of activation of the reticular information.

The classification according to the indicators of consciousness activity includes:

- a state of increased mental activity,

- the state of optimal (average) mental activity,

- a state of altered consciousness ,

- a state of low mental activity,

- the state of transition from burglaries to sleep,

- a state of vigorous sleep (with dreams),

- a state of deep sleep (slow),

- state of loss of consciousness.

Qualitative PS classification is based on the above levels.

In conclusion, let us consider mental states as psychic phenomena: they are the result of an integral adaptive personal response to changes in internal and external conditions aimed at achieving a positive result and manifesting itself in the degree of mobilization of the person's functional capabilities and experiences.