Properties of mental states

Man is able to carry out any activity in different regimes. And one of them is known to be mental states.

A mental state is a mode of human activity that is characterized by special energy characteristics at the physiological level, and a set of psychological filters at the psychological level. These filters, in fact, provide a subjective perception of the person surrounding his reality.

Together with the properties of the personality and mental processes, mental states are the main classes of psychic phenomena, studied by psychology. Mental states have an effect on how mental processes proceed, and, regularly repeating and becoming more stable, are able to become part of the structure of the personality, playing the role of its specific properties.

What are the types of mental states?

All sorts of mental states are closely interrelated. And this relationship is so strong that it is very, very difficult to separate and isolate individual mental states. For example, the state of relaxation is associated with states of pleasure, sleep, fatigue, etc.

However, there are certain systems of categorization of mental states. Most often, the states of the intellect, the state of consciousness and the state of the individual are distinguished. Of course, there are other classifications - they consider hypnotic, crisis and other types of states. At the same time, a lot of criteria are used to categorize states.

Criteria for the categorization of mental states

In most cases, the following group of criteria for the categorization of mental states are distinguished:

1. Source of formation:

• The states that are conditioned by the situation (reaction to punishment, etc.)
• Personally-conditioned states (a sharp emotion, etc.)

1. Degree of external expression:

• Slightly expressed, superficial states (mild sadness, etc.)
• Strong, deep states (passionate love, etc.)

1. Emotional coloring:

• Negative states (despondency, etc.)
• Positive states (inspiration, etc.)
• Neutral states (indifference, etc.)

1. Duration:

• Prolonged conditions that can last for years (depression, etc.)
• Short-term states that last for several seconds (anger, etc.)
• States of medium duration (fear, etc.)

1. Degree of awareness:

• Conscious states (mobilization of forces, etc.)
• Unconscious states (sleep, etc.)

1. Level of development:

• Psychological states (enthusiasm, etc.)
• Physiological conditions (hunger, etc.)
• Psychophysiological conditions

Guided by these criteria, you can provide a comprehensive description of almost any mental state.

It is also important to mention that simultaneously with mental states there are also so-called "mass-like" states - mental states that are characteristic of specific communities: societies, peoples, groups of people. Basically, such states are public sentiments and public opinion.

Now it is worth talking about the basic mental states of a person and their properties.

Basic mental states. Properties of mental states

The most common and typical mental states, inherent in most people in their daily and professional life, are the following states:

Optimum working condition - ensures maximum efficiency of the activity, passing at the average rate and intensity.

State properties: increased concentration, activity of thinking, memory aggravation and the presence of a target. 

The state of strenuous labor activity - arises with labor under extreme conditions.

Properties of the state: mental stress caused by the presence of a goal of increased importance or increased demands, strong motivation to achieve the desired result, increased activity of the entire nervous system. 

The state of professional interest - plays a crucial role in the effectiveness of labor.

Properties of the state: the realized importance of professional activity, the desire and desire to learn as much as possible information about the work performed, focus on the objects that are associated with the activity. In a number of cases, there is an increase in creative potential, an aggravation of perception, an increased ability to repeat what has already been learned, and an increased power of imagination. 

Monotony is a condition that develops with long-term and regularly repeated loads of medium or low intensity, as well as repeated monotonous information. State properties: indifference, reduced concentration of attention, boredom, impaired perception of the information received. 

Fatigue is a state of temporary decline in performance that occurs with prolonged and high loads. Conjugated with the exhaustion of the organism. The properties of the state: reduced motivation for work, memory and attention dysfunction, enhanced CNS inhibition processes. 

Stress is a condition of prolonged and increased stress, which is due to the person's inability to adapt to the requirements of the environment. Here, an important role is played by environmental factors that exceed the ability of the human body to adapt.

Properties of the state: mental tension, feelings of anxiety, trouble, often - apathy and indifference. In addition, there is a depletion of adrenaline stores, which the body needs. 

The state of relaxation is the state of recovery, relaxation, and calm that occurs when autogenic trainings or, for example, prayers or reading mantras, etc. The main reason for this condition is the cessation of a person's intense activity in general.

Properties of the state: a feeling of warmth spreading through the body, a sense of peace and relaxation at the physiological level. 

The state of sleep is a special mental state characterized by the disconnection of a person's consciousness from external reality. It is interesting that the state of sleep has two distinct phases, which are constantly alternating - it is a slow dream and a quick sleep. Both of them can often be regarded as independent mental states. And the process of sleep is connected with the need to systematize the information flows that were received during wakefulness, as well as the body's need to restore its resources.

Properties of the state: disconnection of consciousness, immobility, temporal activity of various parts of the nervous system. 

The state of wakefulness is a state opposed to the state of sleep. In a calm form can manifest itself in such activity, as, for example, watching a movie, reading a book, listening to music. In a more active form manifested in physical exercises, work, walks, etc.

Properties of the state: the average activity of the nervous system, the absence of pronounced emotions (in a calm state) or, conversely, violent emotions (in the active state).

Let us repeat that the above-mentioned mental states are characteristic of most people. Any relationship between these states, as well as the dynamics of their development process, are of paramount importance, both in the ordinary life of a person and in his professional activities.

Proceeding from this, mental states can be safely called one of the subjects of study in various fields of psychological science, such as general psychology, age psychology, personality psychology, psychology of motivation or labor psychology.

Throughout time, people have tried to understand the essence of mental states, and these attempts do not stop even in our time. The reason for this is, perhaps, that the person and the characteristics of his personality are a great mystery both for ordinary people and for scholarly minds. And we can not say that today, in the study of the person's personality, great progress has been made, which boldly continues its way forward. But it is likely that this mystery will not be solved once and for all, because nature in any form is truly incomprehensible. 

Wish you luck!