With that in mind, let's take a closer look at the distinctions.
Thoughts | We'll begin with our sensory input. Thoughts are our perception of events, stimulus, and our environment. They are a cognitive function taking place within our mind. Kateri McRae, a University of Denver psychologist who works with the study of emotions says, "a lot of times, our feelings are preceded by certain thoughts." This means our perception of things often shapes our emotional responses and feelings. |
Emotions | Emotions are physiological. They are a biological response that occurs unconsciously and takes place within our body over a short amount of time. How short? Well according to Harvard Neuroanatomist Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor, 90 seconds is about how long it takes for the emotion inducing chemicals to completely dissipate once released. Dr Taylor explains; "When a person has a reaction to something in their environment," she says, "there's a 90-second chemical process that happens in the body; after that, any remaining emotional response is just the person choosing to stay in that emotional loop." Emotions are a way for our bodies to very quickly and efficiently receive and process data about our environment. They are essential to our daily activity and functioning. Noted neurologist Antonio R. Damasio elaborates; ". . .for neuroscience, emotions are more or less the complex reactions the body has to certain stimuli. When we are afraid of something, our hearts begin to race, our mouths become dry, our skin turns pale and our muscles contract. This emotional reaction occurs automatically and unconsciously." |
Feelings | Feelings are cognitive and can last longer than their chemical counterparts, emotions. They are something we perceive consciously, made up of physical and mental sensations that occur as we internalise emotions, of which they are often made up of a mix. As the emotional chemicals are 'felt' and we begin to process them cognitively, integrating them into our perception, we formulate feelings. This is how we 'decode' or make sense of the physiological sensations triggered by our emotions. |
Moods | Moods are often defined as more generalised and made up of a combination of emotions and feelings. They are often more in-flux, and semi-persistent, coming and going. As a result, they may last longer than individual emotions or feelings - anywhere from a minute to whole days. Moods are both physical, chemical, and mental states. However, they may also be shaped by an arrangement of factors such as:
- Environment (temperature, noise, comfort)
- Physiology (emotions, diet, exercise, health)
- Mental state (feelings, focus, cognition).
All these inputs come together to shape a general sense of mood. |
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Affect, mood, and emotions are distinct concepts in the field of psychology.
Affect refers to the external expression of a person's internal emotional state and can be observed through facial expressions, tone of voice, and body language. It is more changeable and can vary within seconds or minutes [1].
Mood, on the other hand, is a sustained emotional state that colors an individual's perception of the world. It is an internal feeling that is less changeable than affect and can be influenced by life circumstances and individual temperament [2].
Emotions are specific sensations or feelings in the mind that provide directional drive to other mental faculties for goal-directed actions. They have evolved individually to meet survival needs and can be qualitatively and quantitatively determined on different emotion scales [3] [4]. While affect and mood are observable and subjective experiences, emotions are more specific and have distinct roles in the evolutionary context
Emotions | Emotions are complex, subjective experiences involving feelings, physiological reactions, and behavioral responses triggered by internal or external stimuli. Individuals do not experience emotions consciously, occurring in the brain's limbic system. Learn more about which part of the brain controls emotions in our guide. Some common emotions include: Anger Love Sadness |
Feelings | Feelings are subjective experiences that arise from emotions, shaped by personal perceptions and interpretations of emotional responses. Unlike emotions, feelings are conscious experiences. Some common feelings include:Embarrassment Empathy Curiosity |
Moods | Moods encompass sustained emotional states that are less intense than emotions, influencing one's overall disposition and coloring their perceptions and behaviors over a more extended period. Some common moods include:Irritable Energetic Anxious |