In terms of Hamlet's psychological state, we learn that he is suffering from the death of his father--from supposedly natural causes. We also know that he is upset that his mother has rapidly married his uncle, who has now taken the title of "King"--"the funeral meats dressed the marriage table".
Once the ghost appears and tells Hamlet that he did not die naturally, but was murdered by his uncle, Hamlet suffers all anew. He is now not just adjusting to the death of his beloved father, but he is now adjusting to the idea that his father was taken from him before he was supposed to go...by murder. Obviously Hamlet is feeling robbed, cheated, and betrayed in additional to dealing with the loss of a loved one. Is his mother guilty? He doesn't know if she is involved in the murder, but Hamlet does hold her at fault for being a weak woman ("Frailty is thy name!") and marrying too quickly for anyone's comfort.
Hamlet must also adjust to what the ghost has told him. Does he trust the ghost, take it at its word, and act on the information shared? Or, does he behave more cautiously to test what the ghost has told him in order to prove or disprove the accusations...thus preventing Hamlet from making a horrible error. He is obviously torn and confused, and thinks a lot before he acts. Of course, if more of us in this modern time did more thinking before we acted, the world might be a more pleasant place.
Good Luck!
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