Mental shock or a state of affect

In psychological practice, quite often there are cases of actions uncontrollable by the consciousness and will of a man, which are usually erased in the memory of this person, after they are committed. This phenomenon has the name "state of affect" and arises from the formation of internal conflict, or as a response to an unexpectedly arisen 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. In this case, a person has increased motor activity, emotional arousal, which can cause paralysis, expressive facial expressions and speech, as well as reorganization of the work of internal organs. Also, the state of affect can be caused by an unexpected occurrence of a stressful situation.

It is customary to distinguish such affects as physiological and pathological.

Affect physiological is associated with the emergence of a short-term emotional reaction, accompanied by changes in the mind of a person, while there is increased motor activity.

Affect pathological is a painful condition and has several stages of manifestation. So, at the initial stage there is an emotional tension, which increases with the duration of the traumatic conflict situation, resulting in an acute affective reaction. At the second stage, there is an unmotivated motor activity, the human consciousness is disturbed. The last stage of affect is characterized by motor retardation, often there is terminal sleep and amnesia. We can say that the state of affect in a pathological form is characterized by man's insanity, since he completely loses control over himself.

Psychologists are divided into several types of affect:

1. Classical. Occurs in the form of a brief, violent reaction to the stimulus.

2. Accumulative. Characterized by the duration of accumulation of negative emotions followed by their explosion.

Also distinguish stenic and asthenic affects. In the first case, a person observes the appearance of force and reaction to the stimulus, which in normal life is not inherent in him. In the second case, there is one particular emotion, as a response to the situation, for example, panic or fear.

It is generally believed that affects occur most often in people who do not accept self-control, so they never restrain themselves, and in people who have certain types of temperament and moral upbringing.

Thus, the state of affect is always accompanied by motor activity, changes in mimicry, speech, gestures, and finally, the appearance of a person. The most important in this case is the suddenness of its formation and the rapid mastery of human consciousness. Affect inherent inappropriate reactions of the subject, distortion of the evaluation of all that is happening. This phenomenon, like the state of affect, is accompanied by changes in the human body, while the level of adrenaline rises, blood pressure, the work of blood vessels, internal organs, and coordination of movements is disrupted, which can cause asthenia and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

Psychologists found that with frequent stressful situations, the risk of an affective condition increases, so it is recommended to use various techniques and techniques to relieve stress.