States Of Mind Affect Our Attention - Cognitive psychology - Mind Scape Today
In different states of mind, people contemplate the same topic of conflict in various ways; for example, a person who decides to stay in an ambivalent relationship in one state might decide to end it in another. Observing differences in attitude in various states can clarify the nature of the conflict.
Attention to
states of mind and their labeling can lead to heightened awareness and
clarification. Recognizing patterns and shifts in states and analyzing the
cycles of states often illuminates motivation and clears the way for the
understanding of conflict and its possible resolution.
Labeling states
Attention always depends on our labeling states. Labeling states of mind fall into three
main categories. The first portrays the emotional coloration of a mood, such as
depression or anxiety. These are general labels that are
given to describe primary emotions. Idiosyncratic labels such as tensely
vigilant or morose
blues can be used to
heighten personal awareness and describe individualized states. The second main
category describes state regulation using the terms under-modulated, over-modulated, well-modulated, and shimmering. These themes are examined next. The
third category labels state by type of motivation, such as wished-for or
dreaded states. It also includes those quasi-adaptive and problematic states that
people defensively use to avoid entry into states they dread.