Mood congruence
Encyclopedia
In psychiatry
, mood congruence is the congruence between feeling
, or the emotion
that a person is experiencing, and affect display
, or the manner in which that emotion is "presenting", or being expressed.
In psychology
, symptom
s are said to be mood-congruent if they are consistent with a patient's mood
or mental disorder. Conversely, they are said to be mood-incongruent if they are inconsistent with their primary mood.
For example, suicide ideation in a patient suffering from Major Depressive Disorder would be a mood-congruent symptom. Likewise, feelings of omnipotence
or other delusions of grandeur
would be considered mood-incongruent symptoms in the case of depression, while they would be mood-congruent in a person experiencing megalomania
.
Often refers to mood-congruent delusions. Manic delusions include delusions of reference, religiousity, grandiosity. Depressive delusions include intense feelings of guilt, feeling as though they are responsible for a terrible crime, delusions of persecution as well as thought-blocking, thought-insertion and thought-withdrawal.
Moreover, in social psychology
the definition mood congruency refers to a cognitive mechanism that explains a wide variety of mood effects in which there is a match in affective valence
between people’s mood and their responses (Mayer et al., 1992).
Examples:
Mood Congruency is strongest when people try to recall personally meaningful episodes, because such events were most likely to be colored by their moods.
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, mood congruence is the congruence between feeling
Feeling
Feeling is the nominalization of the verb to feel. The word was first used in the English language to describe the physical sensation of touch through either experience or perception. The word is also used to describe experiences, other than the physical sensation of touch, such as "a feeling of...
, or the emotion
Emotion
Emotion is a complex psychophysiological experience of an individual's state of mind as interacting with biochemical and environmental influences. In humans, emotion fundamentally involves "physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and conscious experience." Emotion is associated with mood,...
that a person is experiencing, and affect display
Affect display
In psychology, affect display or affective display is a subject's externally displayed affect. The display can be by facial, vocal, or gestural means . When displayed affect is different from the subjective affect, it is incongruent affect...
, or the manner in which that emotion is "presenting", or being expressed.
In psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
, symptom
Symptom
A symptom is a departure from normal function or feeling which is noticed by a patient, indicating the presence of disease or abnormality...
s are said to be mood-congruent if they are consistent with a patient's mood
Mood (psychology)
A mood is a relatively long lasting emotional state. Moods differ from emotions in that they are less specific, less intense, and less likely to be triggered by a particular stimulus or event....
or mental disorder. Conversely, they are said to be mood-incongruent if they are inconsistent with their primary mood.
For example, suicide ideation in a patient suffering from Major Depressive Disorder would be a mood-congruent symptom. Likewise, feelings of omnipotence
Omnipotence
Omnipotence is unlimited power. Monotheistic religions generally attribute omnipotence to only the deity of whichever faith is being addressed...
or other delusions of grandeur
Delusions of Grandeur
Delusions of Grandeur is an album by Fleming and John that was released in 1995.-Track listing:# "I'm Not Afraid" — 3:13# "Break The Circles" — 3:01# "Delusions Of Grandeur" — 3:45# "Love Songs" — 4:33# "Letters In My Head" — 3:56...
would be considered mood-incongruent symptoms in the case of depression, while they would be mood-congruent in a person experiencing megalomania
Megalomania
Megalomania is a psycho-pathological condition characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence. 'Megalomania is characterized by an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation by persons of their powers and beliefs'...
.
Often refers to mood-congruent delusions. Manic delusions include delusions of reference, religiousity, grandiosity. Depressive delusions include intense feelings of guilt, feeling as though they are responsible for a terrible crime, delusions of persecution as well as thought-blocking, thought-insertion and thought-withdrawal.
Moreover, in social psychology
Social psychology
Social psychology is the scientific study of how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by the actual, imagined, or implied presence of others. By this definition, scientific refers to the empirical method of investigation. The terms thoughts, feelings, and behaviors include all...
the definition mood congruency refers to a cognitive mechanism that explains a wide variety of mood effects in which there is a match in affective valence
Valence
-Chemistry and physics:* Valence * Valence bond theory in chemistry* Valence shell in chemistry* Valence band in physics* Valence quarks in particle physics-In other sciences:* Valency...
between people’s mood and their responses (Mayer et al., 1992).
Examples:
- Congruent mood - smiling while feeling happy.
- Non-congruent mood - smiling while feeling anxious.
- Inappropriate affect - laughing while describing a loved one's funeral, for instance.
Mood Congruency is strongest when people try to recall personally meaningful episodes, because such events were most likely to be colored by their moods.