Which of the following best describes affect in relation to mood?

• A. The emotional tone observed by the interviewer
• B. The self-reported mood
• C. Affect is the same as mood
• D. Affect is the physical health status

Answer: (C)

Affect is the outward, observable expression of emotion. In an interview or assessment you look at the emotional tone visible in facial expressions, voice, and body language. Mood, by contrast, is the person’s internal, subjective emotional state that they report experiencing, which can be more persistent over time. So the best way to describe affect in relation to mood is that affect reflects the observable emotional tone, not the person’s self-reported mood and not a separate measure of health. The idea that affect is the same as mood is incorrect because they refer to different aspects of emotion—observable expression versus internal experience.