Inappropriate affect is an emotional expression that does not align with the content of a person's speech or thoughts, or is unsuitable for the situation at hand. This is often observed in individuals with

schizophrenia Schizophrenia () is a mental disorder characterized variously by hallucinations (typically, Auditory hallucination#Schizophrenia, hearing voices), delusions, thought disorder, disorganized thinking and behavior, and Reduced affect display, f ...

, where emotional responses, such as laughter, may occur in the absence of a relevant stimulus. Patients may exhibit excessive or incongruous expressions, such as giggling or loud

laughter Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction and emotion consisting usually of rhythmical, usually audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli. Laug ...

in response to neutral or somber thoughts, or display

grief Grief is the response to the loss of something deemed important, particularly to the death of a person to whom or animal to which a Human bonding, bond or affection was formed. Although conventionally focused on the emotional response to loss, ...

without apparent cause. This type of affect may suggest that the emotional expression holds personal, subjective meanings for the individual, which may only be understood within their specific context. It is important to differentiate inappropriate affect from culturally influenced emotional expressions that may be deemed appropriate within a specific

subculture A subculture is a group of people within a culture, cultural society that differentiates itself from the values of the conservative, standard or dominant culture to which it belongs, often maintaining some of its founding principles. Subcultures ...

or ethnic group unfamiliar to the observer, as well as from defensive affects, such as nervous laughter used to manage tension or prevent emotional distress.

References

Disturbance of affect Symptoms and signs of mental disorders {{Symptom-stub

See also

References