Emotional vs. Psychological — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 19, 2024
Emotional refers to feelings and reactions related to mood, such as happiness or sadness, while psychological pertains to the mind and mental processes, including cognition and behavior.
Difference Between Emotional and Psychological
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Emotional aspects involve feelings, moods, and affective states that are often responses to experiences and interactions. On the other hand, psychological aspects encompass a broader range of mental processes, including emotions but also involving cognition, perception, and behavior.
While emotional responses are typically immediate and directly linked to mood changes, psychological responses can be more complex, integrating thoughts, long-term behavior patterns, and mental health issues. In contrast, psychological health is studied in clinical psychology and psychiatry, focusing on diagnosing and treating mental health disorders.
The study of emotional health primarily deals with managing and understanding one's feelings and emotional reactions. Whereas, psychological health encompasses both emotional well-being and cognitive functions, such as memory and decision-making.
Emotions can be seen as a subset of psychological phenomena, where they play a critical role in the overall mental and psychological well-being of an individual. Conversely, psychological processes include a wide array of human functions, from neurological processes to social interactions.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Pertaining to feelings and moods
Pertaining to the mind and mental processes
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Focus
Immediate affective states
Broad mental processes including cognition and behavior
Studies
Often explored in psychology and counseling
Explored in various fields like psychology, psychiatry
Health Aspect
Concerned with mood and affect regulation
Involves mental health, cognition, and behavior
Examples
Happiness, sadness, anger
Memory, perception, decision-making, mental disorders
Compare with Definitions
Emotional
Related to one's feelings and moods.
He felt an emotional uplift after the call with his friend.
Psychological
Encompasses both emotional and cognitive aspects.
Psychological assessments often evaluate emotional states.
Emotional
Involving affective reactions to stimuli.
Her emotional response to the movie was intense.
Psychological
Relating to the science of psychology.
He pursued a career in psychological research.
Emotional
Pertaining to the expression of feelings.
Emotional expression can be therapeutic.
Psychological
Pertaining to mental health and functioning.
Psychological well-being is affected by various factors.
Emotional
Can be influenced by psychological factors.
Emotional stability often requires solid psychological health.
Psychological
Involving the mental and cognitive processes of the mind.
Psychological theories explain human behavior.
Emotional
Concerned with the assessment of mood states.
Emotional health is crucial for overall well-being.
Psychological
Concerned with behavioral responses to different situations.
Psychological resilience is key in overcoming adversity.
Emotional
Of or relating to emotion
An emotional illness.
Emotional crises.
Psychological
Of, affecting, or arising in the mind; related to the mental and emotional state of a person
The victim had sustained physical and psychological damage
Emotional
Readily affected with or stirred by emotion
An emotional person who often weeps.
Psychological
Of or relating to psychology
Psychological research.
Emotional
Arousing or intended to arouse the emotions
An emotional appeal.
Psychological
Of, relating to, or arising from the mind or emotions.
Emotional
Marked by or exhibiting emotion
An emotional farewell.
Psychological
Influencing or intended to influence the mind or emotions
Psychological warfare.
Emotional
Of or relating to the emotions.
Emotional crisis
Emotional lift
Psychological
Of or being any of certain primary colors whose mixture may be subjectively conceived as producing other colors.
Emotional
Characterised by emotion.
Psychological
Of or pertaining to psychology.
An inkblot test is a method of psychological evaluation.
Emotional
Determined by emotion rather than reason.
Emotional decision
Psychological
Relating to the mind and behavior or to the mental, emotional, and behavioral characteristics pertaining to a specified person, group, or activity.
I'm concerned about their psychological well-being.
The film was a dark psychological thriller.
Emotional
Appealing to or arousing emotion.
Emotional speech
Psychological
Without an objective, or reasonably logical foundation.
Prices seem to have stopped rising, having hit the psychological ceiling of just under 100 dollars.
Emotional
Easily affected by emotion.
She’s an emotional person.
Psychological
Mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature;
Give psychological support
Psychological warfare
Emotional
Readily displaying emotion.
Emotional greeting
Psychological
Of or relating to or determined by psychology;
Psychological theories
Emotional
An emotional person
Emotional
Pertaining to, or characterized by, emotion; excitable; easily moved; sensational; as, an emotional nature.
Emotional
Determined or actuated by emotion rather than reason;
It was an emotional judgment
Emotional
Of more than usual emotion;
His behavior was highly emotional
Emotional
Of or pertaining to emotion;
Emotional health
An emotional crisis
Emotional
Extravagantly demonstrative;
Insincere and effusive demonstrations of sentimental friendship
A large gushing female
Write unrestrained and gushy poetry
Emotional
Of persons; excessively affected by emotion;
He would become emotional over nothing at all
She was worked up about all the noise
Common Curiosities
What's the difference between emotional and psychological health?
Emotional health focuses on managing feelings, whereas psychological health includes both emotional and cognitive aspects.
What does psychological mean?
Psychological pertains to mental processes and behavior.
What is meant by emotional?
Emotional refers to aspects of feelings and moods.
Are emotions always psychological?
Yes, emotions are a psychological phenomenon though they are often focused more specifically on affective states.
How do emotional and psychological aspects interact?
Emotional states are part of broader psychological processes.
Can improving psychological health improve emotional responses?
Improving psychological health can lead to healthier emotional responses and better mood regulation.
What tools are used to assess emotional health?
Tools like mood charts and emotional diaries are used to assess emotional health.
What distinguishes psychological research from emotional research?
Psychological research covers a broader range, including cognition and behavior, while emotional research focuses on affective states.
Can psychological issues affect emotional health?
Yes, psychological issues can significantly impact emotional well-being.
How are emotional states studied?
Emotional states are studied through psychological and counseling techniques.
What is the role of cognition in psychological health?
Cognition plays a crucial role in overall psychological functioning and health.
How are emotions expressed differently across cultures?
Emotional expression varies widely across cultures, influenced by social norms and values.
How can one improve their emotional and psychological health?
Strategies like therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can improve both emotional and psychological health.
What impact do emotional disturbances have on psychological functioning?
Emotional disturbances can disrupt psychological functioning, affecting behavior and cognition.
Is psychology a science?
Yes, psychology is a science focused on studying mental processes and behaviors.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
