Labile affect is characterized by which pattern?

• A. Reduced emotional expression
• B. Absence of emotional expression
• C. Rapid and exaggerated mood changes
• D. Stable mood with no fluctuation

Answer: (C)

Labile affect means the outward emotional expression changes rapidly and with exaggerated intensity, often shifting from one emotion to another in a short span or in response to minimal triggers. A person might cry suddenly and then burst into laughter moments later, or their facial expressions and tone swing unpredictably, even if their internal mood hasn’t clearly matched those shifts. This pattern is about instability in how emotion is shown, not about how strong the emotion feels inside. It contrasts with flat or reduced affect, where emotional expression is diminished, and with a mood that remains stable without fluctuations. So the defining feature is rapid, exaggerated changes in emotional expression.