The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal [Hardcover]

Robert E. Thayer (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0195051629 | ISBN-13: 978-0195051629 | Publication Date: May 25, 1989

What is the biological function of daily mood variations? What is the relationship between mood and such factors as exercise, time of day, nutrition, stress, and illness? Why do long-term personal problems sometimes appear overwhelming late at night, but of lesser significance when energy is high? How can subtle physiological and psychological influences exert control not only on mood, but also on perception, judgment, and cognitive processes, and ultimately on behavior? How does snacking, coffee drinking, and smoking affect one's mental disposition, and how can urges to use these substances be understood as attempts to regulate mood? Drawing on his own wide-ranging research concerning subjective assessments of mood and on extensive research by others, Dr. Thayer presents a comprehensive theory of normal mood states, viewing them as subjective components of two biological arousal systems, one which people find energizing, and the other which people describe as producing tension. The author explains these two mood effects in relation to a complex relationship between energy and tension. Relevant research is systematically reviewed, and moods are analyzed in relation to circadian rhythms, exercise, nutrition, sleep, stress, and cognition. Perceptual and motivational effects of mood are also discussed, as are measurement and research design issues. Unique in its depth and comprehensiveness, this book will be of interest not only to researchers in psychology, biology, and medicine, but its clear style of presentation and the practical activities suggested for mood regulation will make it interesting to general readers as well.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a courageous and most welcome effort to establish the concept of mood as an important part of psychology. It reviews the literature exhaustively, and organizes it in terms of the writer's own long continued work in this area. He is not afraid to look at the biological as well as the introspective aspects of moods, and gives us an integrative model of moods and mood changes which will dominate research in the coming years."--H.J. Eysenck, University of London

"A fascinating, scholarly, well-written and accessible book. ...that brings fresh and integrative ideas to this complex area." --The Quarterly Review of Biology

About the Author

About the Author
Robert E. Thayer, Ph.D., is Professor of Psychology at California State University, Long Beach. His training is in psychology of personality with specialties in biopsychology and psychophysiological approaches to mood, emotion, and personality. His research is widely cited in the scientific literature, and recently his work has received a great deal of attention in the popular literature in relation to the mood effects of walking, sugar snacking, and biological cycles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 25, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195051629
• ISBN-13: 978-0195051629
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,593,897 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned new information about my body, mind, and spirit, July 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Biopsychology of Mood and Arousal (Hardcover)

Thayer's book gave me new insight on topics I have often thought about but haven't been completely clear on- my daily mood in relation to several aspects of interest, including exercise, caffeine, and sleep. An avid runner, I often wonder about how to optimize my mood through exercise. Thayer's clear description of exercise and it's effects on mood allowed me to understand my goals in achieving a peaceful state of mind through my runs. Also, his research on caffeine and mood provides good evidence that the optimal amount of caffeine (which is different for all individuals) can increase a person's affect. Finally, Thayer's work on sleep and mood is fascinating. I feel more secure in my thoughts about how much sleep I need each night in order to be in a positive mood state, whereas prior to reading his book, I wasn't completely confident that sleep affected mood in such compelling positive and negative ways. I would recommend Thayer's book to all individuals desirin! g to know not only more about daily moods but also more about personal daily patterns which are affecting mood in ways that one would never guess. I assure that all readers will gain a clear understanding of how to increase daily mood, and no individual can deny that such an increase has the potential to enhance one's life in very positive ways.