Authors : Ekaterina M. Alexeyeva and Albert V. Chernov
Abstract: The study presents and discusses the results of the scientific study concerning the associative level of mental state representation. It describes the current status of mental state representation problematic, empirical procedure and methods as well as the results of the study concerning the explicit and implicit components of the associative level of mental state representation. Explicit verbal associative links of mental states with life situations are described in the study as well as the regularities and the features of implicit association of mental pain, joy, sadness, delight, depression situations and the communication with friends. It was shown that mental states are inextricably and associatively related with the situations of life activity both explicitly and implicitly. Typical, atypical and uncertain (unformed) associative relations of situations with mental states as well as the gender features of mental state implicit associations with the situations of life activity: a clear differentiation in the relation “a situation, a mental state” is revealed among male representatives. The most pronounced association with situations is presented by mental conditions opposed by sign and value and characterized by a high or a low degree of mental activity.
Ekaterina M. Alexeyeva and Albert V. Chernov, 2015. Representation of Mental States: Associative Level. The Social Sciences, 10: 1959-1963.