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Mood (psychology)

A mood is a relatively long lasting, affective or emotional state. Moods differ from simple emotions in that they are less specific, are less intense, or less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event, and lasting. Moods generally have either a positive or negative valence. In other words, people often speak of being in a good mood or a bad mood. Unlike acute, emotional feelings like fear and surprise, moods generally last for hours or days. Mood also differs from temperament or personality traits which are even more general and longer lasting. However, personality traits (e.g. Optimism, Neuroticism) tend to predispose certain types of moods. Mood is an internal, subjective state, but it often can be inferred from posture and other behaviors.

According to the psychologist, Robert Thayer, mood is a product of two dimensions, energy and the tension.) A person can be energetic or tired while also being tense or calm. According to Thayer, people feel best when they are in a calm-energy mood. They feel worse when in a tense-tired state.

People often use food to regulate mood. Thayer identifies a fundamental food-mood connection , and advises against the reliance on food as a mood regulator. The low energy arousal coupled with tension, as experienced in a bad mood, can be counteracted by walking. Thayer suggests walking as a means to enhanced happiness.

Etymologically, mood derives from the Old English mōd which denoted military courage, but could also refer to a person's humour, temper, or disposition at a particular time. The cognate Gothic mōds translates to both θυμος "mood, spiritedness" and οργη "anger".

A mood disorder is the term given for a group of diagnoses in the DSM IV TR classification system where a disturbance in the person's mood is hypothesised to be the main underlying feature.