A Glossary of Descriptive Psychology Concepts

What's this all about?

State

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  1. The kind of change that may be quick, non-persistent, and readily reversible.
  2. In a particular state, there is a systematic difference in a person's powers or dispositions.
  3. One of the Derivatives. .
notes
Some of the states which we commonly distinguish are being tired, sleepy, asleep, in pain, intoxicated, anxious, angry, overjoyed, excited, sick, euphoric, in shock, depersonalized, confused, dizzy, weak, unconscious, exhausted, and depressed.

The consequences of such states is behavioral only via the differences in powers or dispositions. Thus, if I am tired, that doesn't say there is a certain behavior I am likely to do. (If there is, it will be a reaction to being tired, not an expression of being tired. I drink coffee as a reaction to being tired, not to show I am tired.) If I am tired, things I can do quickly, easily, and accurately I now do less quickly, less easily, and less accurately (via a difference in abilities). Likewise, my trait of generosity, my attitude of enthusiastic appreciation of music, my interest in chess, and my energetic style are likely to be affected.

The more tired I am, the more likely they are to be affected. Some of the differences may, in turn, be expressed in what I do or don't do or in how I do what I do, but they need not be.