Affect

Affect is a general description of an experienced emotional state; in narrower use it means a short-lived, very intense agitation.

Definition

In psychology, the term "affect" is used broadly: as a name for emotional experiences, mood or visible expression of emotions. In colloquial and legal language, it often means a sudden, short state of severe agitation. When physiological arousal is high, thinking may narrow and decisions become more impulsive. Recognizing your own body signals helps you reduce the time you stay in high emotion and reduce the risk of harm.

Key ideas

Missing key ideas.

Practice and life

When you feel a rising emotion, apply the STOP rule: stop, breathe for 60 seconds, name the emotion and postpone the decision for 10 minutes.

Common misunderstanding

It is a mistake to treat affect as a justification for any behavior. It is also a mistake to reduce all emotionality to sudden outbursts, because affect in psychology has a broader meaning.

Questions for self-reflection

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Sources

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