In psychological practice, quite often there are cases of acts that are not controlled by the consciousness and will of a person, which are usually erased in the memory of this person after they are committed. This phenomenon is called the “state of affect” and arises as a result of the formation of an internal conflict, or as a response to an unexpected critical situation. Causes of affect can also serve as various circumstances that can change the mental and mental state of a person. Thus, the state of affect in psychology implies a strong emotional experience that occurs for a short period of time and is associated with a change in circumstances that are of particular importance to the subject. At the same time, a person has increased motor activity, emotional arousal, which can cause paralysis, expressive facial expressions and speech, as well as the restructuring of the work of internal organs. Also, the state of affect can be caused by the unexpected appearance of a stressful situation.
It is customary to distinguish between such affects as physiological and pathological.
The physiological affect is associated with the occurrence of a short-term emotional reaction, accompanied by changes in the human mind, while there is increased motor activity.
Pathological affect is a painful condition and has several stages of manifestation. So, at the initial stage, emotional stress arises, which increases with the duration of the traumatic conflict situation, as a result of which an acute affective reaction occurs. In the second stage, unmotivated motor activity occurs, the human consciousness is disturbed. The last stage of affect is characterized by motor inhibition, terminal sleep and amnesia often occur. We can say that the state of affect in a pathological form is characterized by the insanity of a person, since he completely loses control over himself.
Psychologists distinguish several types of affect:
1. Classic. It occurs in the form of a short-term violent reaction to an irritant.
2. Accumulative. It is characterized by the duration of the accumulation of negative emotions with their subsequent explosion.
Stenic and asthenic affects are also distinguished. In the first case, a person has the appearance of strength and reaction to a stimulus that are not inherent in him in ordinary life. In the second case, one certain emotion arises as a response to the situation that has arisen, for example, panic or fear.
It is generally accepted that affects occur most often in people who do not accept self-control, therefore never restrain themselves, and in people who have certain types of temperament and moral education.
Thus, the state of affect is always accompanied by motor activity, changes in facial expressions, speech, gestures, and finally, the appearance of a person. The most important thing in this case is the suddenness of its formation and the quick mastery of human consciousness. Affect is characterized by inadequate reactions of the subject, their distortion of the assessment of everything that happens. Such a phenomenon as the state of affect is accompanied by changes in the human body, while the level of adrenaline, blood pressure rises, the functioning of blood vessels, internal organs, as well as coordination of movements are disturbed, which can cause asthenia and exacerbation of chronic diseases.
Psychologists have found that with frequent stressful situations, the risk of an affective state increases, so it is recommended to use various techniques and techniques to relieve stress.