Article 32: The Upside to the Many Psychological States

Focusing on the three common mental states (emotions, feelings, and thoughts) provide understanding into the many psychological states (e.g., fear, love, memory, disgust) that a working mind goes through each moment in each day. The common terms of these mental states (emotions, cognititions, and perceptions) help psychological scientists and researchers to distinguish mental categories. Neuroscientists have for many years worked on identifying and connecting unified neural basis of these mental states. In psychology however, there is a theoretical approach for hypothesizing that these mental states stem from multiple processes- a constructionist approach. The brain's ability to process these mental states stem from 3 sources of stimulation.

Now, I am certain that most of you who are reading this have found yourself in several mental states throughout each given day. From anger to happiness, these psychological states help you navigate your mindset accordingly. Research has theoretically concluded, that psychological states are created from its primary sources of stimulation, in that sensory stimulation is collected from sources outside of the human body such as light from rays and sounds, sensory signals that are created from the internal of the body, and prior experience, which serves as a memory bank that the brain puts to use from sensory and motor neurons.

These three areas have been hypothesized to be the focal point towards our psychological states that occur throughout each day. However, when considering the upside to these various psychological states, we must consider the fact that they all serve meaning and purpose in our lives. This means that while many do not always understand or appreciate the stages that occur in the brain, it is important to embrace each mental state, as they tells us what is going on in our personal environments. Think of it like a red flag, signaling that either something is good or bad. All psychological states provide the opportunity to change for the better, or to appreciate what has been worked on for so long!

So, next time you begin to find yourself in an uncomfortable mental state, learn to embrace it, because it might be telling you something important that you need to change! And, although happiness is something that we all long for, it can oftentimes backfire on us! Happiness is imagined the final destination for most things in life, however maybe our happiness is at times false, which can quickly turn into a negative. Embracing each state, allows you to identify important aspects in how you got yourself there. Maybe you did great at work for the past month. You worked hard, put in extra time to research, and your success paid off! Or, maybe you have overloaded your plate with too many tasks, that it has taken you away from your sport performance. Whatever the situation may be, understand your psychological states, and learn to cope, adjust, or appreciate them accordingly!