Mood is a person’s general experience of emotions over time. Positive mood refers to the frequency and intensity with which people experience pleasant emotions, such as happiness and joy. Negative mood refers to the experience of unpleasant emotions, such as anxiety, sadness, and anger. Mood is a major component of a person’s well-being. Researchers have found that there is little association between financial wealth and mood. In addition, dramatic life events, such as winning a large amount of money or being seriously injured, usually have only a temporary impact on mood. These findings suggest that each person has a mood set point, a basic mood level to which he or she will return following occasional changes in mood.
See also Mental illness (Mood disorders).
