AbstractA set of bipolar semantic differential type adjective scales were constructed to assess five mood states. The response format chosen serves to control for response bias, reduces the number of items by half, and measures both positive and negative affect. Each of the six bipolar mood states hypothesized was defined by seven five‐point items. Two studies were conducted on samples of high school boys (N= 210); both confirmed the presence of five mood factors: Cheerful‐Depresed, Energetic‐Tired, Good natured‐Grouchy, Confident‐Unsure, and Relaxed‐Anxious. The mood state factors isolated were compared with the scales in the Eight State Questionnaire and B