Metamood

Metamood is a term used in psychology and philosophy to describe an individual's awareness of their own mood states, and the beliefs, thoughts, and feelings they hold about those moods. It encompasses not only being in a particular mood, but also being conscious of being in that mood, and having opinions and reactions to it. In essence, it's thinking and feeling about your feeling.

Metamood involves several aspects:

• Mood Monitoring: The ability to recognize and identify one's current emotional state. This includes being able to differentiate between various moods like happiness, sadness, anger, or anxiety.

• Mood Evaluation: Judging the appropriateness, desirability, or helpfulness of one's current mood. For example, someone might judge their anxiety as excessive or their sadness as unproductive.

• Mood Regulation Beliefs: Beliefs about one's ability to influence or control their own moods. These beliefs can significantly impact efforts to manage emotions. A person with strong mood regulation beliefs might actively try to change a negative mood, while someone with weak beliefs might feel helpless and passively accept it.

• Attitudes Toward Mood: Holding specific attitudes or values towards different mood states. Some individuals might view negative emotions as inherently bad, while others see them as valuable sources of information.

The concept of metamood is closely related to emotional intelligence and metacognition. A greater understanding of one's metamood can lead to improved emotional regulation and psychological well-being. Dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about mood can contribute to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety. Understanding metamood can be a useful tool in therapeutic settings.