Emotion

By: Jillian Iris Reyes

Carlos Antonio Reyes

What is emotion?

Emotion
- Comes from the Latin roots e and movere, meaning to move, or to migrate

- Before the middle 18th century emotions were referred to as passions (from the greek pathe, to
suffer) and were seen as the suffering of the soul, or inner changes impressed upon the soul by some
external force or agent (Averill, 1990)

- According to Robert Ornsteins phrase (1991) our emotions do seem to have mind of their own

- Emotional reactions have a neural network different from reasoned responses

- Emotions often appear to contradict our conscious impulses; yet without emotion life would be an
exercise in boredom (Lazarus and Lazarus, 1994)

- Without emotion, life would be meaningless. We would be like a stone with no feelings, being
stepped on, thrown away, or used as an implement.
Elements of Emotion

- Emotion: the feeling aspect of consciousness characterized by:

- Certain Physical Arousal

- Certain behaviour that reveals the emotion to the outside world

- Inner awareness of feelings

Which parts of the brain are involved in various aspects of emotion?

The Amygdala

-is a complex structure with many different nuclei and subdivisions, whose roles have been
investigated primarily through studies of fear conditioning

-Emotional stimuli travel to the amygdala by both a fast, crude low road (subcortical) and slower but
more involved cortical high road
Which parts of the brain are involved in various aspects of emotion? (Continued)

- Other subcortical and cortical areas

-Hemisphere

-Frontal lobes

-Anterior cingulate cortex

-Lateral orbitofrontal cortex;

Facial expressions can vary across different cultures

- Seem to be universal

- Display rules

- Labeling emotion

Interpreting the subjective feeling by giving a label

Early Theories of Emotions

Common Sense Theory of Emotion
- James and langes study of emotion
;a stimulus leads to an emotion, which then leads to bodily arousal

Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

-it began with the work of Walter Cannon. He thought that the James-Lange theory was flawed for a
number of reasons (Cannon, 1927)

-Cannon and Bard concluded the experience of an emotion does not depend on input from the body and
how it is responding. Both the experience of the emotion and the bodily response occur at the same
time independently of each other.

- The physiological reaction and the emotion are assumed to occur at the same time

The James-Lange Theory

-William James introduced his theory of emotion with the famous question: Do we run from bear
because we are afraid, or are we afraid because we run?
-James claimed that different emotional stimuli trigger unique patterns of bodily responses

- A physiological reaction leads to the labeling of an emotion

The Schachter-Singer Theory

-Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer suggested that bodily feedback was crucial in the genesis of an
emotion, but not quite in the way James theorized. They believed, like cannon, that bodily feedback
lack specificity.

Cognitive Arousal Theory

- Schachter and Singers study of emotion

- Stimulus leads to both bodily arousal and the labeling of that arousal which leads to the experience
and labeling of the emotional reaction

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

- states that facial movement can influence emotional experience.

- Facial expressions provide feedback to the brain concerning the emoton being expressed, which turn
causes and intesifies the emoton

Cognitive Mediational Theory

- Proposed by Schachter and Singer

- The stimulus lead to the arousal that is labelled using the cognition that leads to the emoton

Comparison of the theories

Modern Theories of Emotion

Cognitive appraisal: process and evaluate objects and events that occur inside and outside the 'Self.'
This process consists of using the 5 senses, evaluating the consequences of actions, and deciding the
relevance of how it applies to the individual.

Subjective feelings: emotions that are felt by the individual are based on perception and are individual
to each person.

Physiological arousal: emotions are linked to autonomic nervous system activity; regulates and
manages functions of the body such as preparing for "fight or flight."

Expressive behaviours: Emotion is communicated through facial and bodily expressions, postural,
and vice changes.

Action tendencies: Emotions can carry behavioural intentions and the readiness to act in certain ways.

When I see you my voice fails. My tongue is paralyzed. A fiery fever runs through my whole body.
My eyes are swimming, and can see nothing. My ears are filled with the throbbing din. Im shivering
all over = Sensory commotion
Involuntary somatic changes that run through the body during an emotional experience:

- Blood pressure and heart rate increases

- Respiration becomes more rapid

- The pupils dilate

- Perspiration increases while secretion of saliva and mucous decreases

- Blood sugar level increases to provide more energy

- The blood clots more quickly in case of wounds

- Blood is diverted from the stomach and intestines to the brain and skeletal muscles

- The hairs on the skin become erect, causing goose pimples

Basic Emotions

Paul Eckman Robert Plutchik

1972: fear, disgust, anger, surprise, happiness, and sadness.

1999; embarrassment, excitement, contempt, shame, pride satisfaction, and amusement

1980s: joy, sadness, trust, disgust, fear, anger, surprise and anticipation
-Happiness vs. sadness, anger vs. fear, trust vs. disgust and surprise vs. anticipation

Robert Plutchiks wheel of emotion

The wheel of emotion is likened to the color wheel in which the primary colors combine to form the
secondary and complementary colors. These basic emotions then mix and combine to form a variety of
feelings.

Charles Darwin

Emotion

Visible Expression

1. Affection
= Kissing, hugging

2. Anger
= Clenching fists

3. Anger, frustration
= frowning

4. Contempt
= sneering

5. Fear, anger
= Hair standing in the end
6. Fear, anxiety
= trembling

7. Pain
= Sweating, screaming

8. Pleasure
= Laughing

9. Resignation
= shrugging

10. Sadness
= Crying

11. Shame, modesty

= Blushing

How then do we communicate our emotions to others and ascertain their emotions as well?

He proposed that each emotion is a discrete state with an outward expression by which it can be
recognized

Emotional experience across cultures

- Chewong (tribe of Malaysia) = only has 7 emotion words

- Pacific island of Ifaluk = there are 58 words for emotion

- Dutch language = has 1,501 words for emotion

- While English has over 2,000 words for emotion

- The tahitians have no word for sadness (but they do have 46 separate terms for anger), neither the
eskimos for anxiety

- A word guilt is missing in Sri Lanka and among the pintupis of aboriginal Australia

-Quichua of Ecuador lack word for remorse, the Ifaluk for surprise

- There is no word for love in the language of the Nyinba of Nepal

- For bugunda of uganda, there is only one word for, okusunguwala, for both anger and sadness

- Gidjingali aborigines say gurakadj when they mean shame and fear

- Alofa, in samoan, covers love, sympathy, pity, and liking

- For our very own Ilongots in the Southern Philippines, the word betang stands for shame, timidity,
embarrassment, awe, obedience and respect

The Adaptive Functions of emotions

1. Emotions mobilize us

When we experience an emotion, our mind narrows its concentration on the immediate issue and what
might be done to cope

2. Emotions communicate our state of mind to others

Emotional Intelligence

Propelled into public awareness by Goleman (1995), this concept embraces a set of emotional skills
crucial to mental and emotional health. These skills include knowing our own emotions, managing and
coping with these emotions well using emotions as positive motivators, empathizing with the feelings
of others, and drawing on emotion knowledge to relate better to others.

In summary, emotions are a complex, fascinating, yet indispensable, aspect of the human psyche.
Modern theories acknowledge this complexity by citing the different components of an emotional
experience, namely, appraisal of a change in the external or internal environment that has significant
implications for a persons goals, accompanied by Subjective feelings, physiological arousal governed
by the ANS, and a proclivity to act in certain ways.

Current views of emotion also highlight their functionality. Many scientists believe that human
emotions evolved primarily as a survival mechanism because they are compelling and hard to ignore
sources of feedback and information about our surroundings and the prospects of our goals. Basic
emotions like fear alert us to danger and help us protect from injury. Anger makes us recognize and
overcome barriers to reaching our goals. We find joy and happiness in the company of others and take
pride in our accomplishments. Sadness over an irredeemable loss helps the body slow down and
disengage from futile efforts to recover what we can no longer have. Once emotion occur, they are
forceful motivators of behaviors - both in terms of our moment-to-moment actions and in the course of
our long-term aspirations. Cultivating our skills in understanding and mastering our own emotions
(emotional intelligence) can enrich our inner state life, strengthen our relationships, and enhance our
well-being

Characteristics of emotion

1. It is a state of behavioral arousal varying from deep sleep to high tension.

2. It is a physiological state (bodily state) which can be measured by physical means.

3. It is an awareness of something we feel and an expression exhibited by the behavior seen by others.

4. It is a motivating force that directs our behavior, or try to avoid or withdraw from it

Classification of emotions

Fear - fear is a negative emotional response to stimuli.

Anger - it is a manifestation of a negative feeling towards a person, object, or event.

Love- love is manifested by the pleasant experience of joy, elation, laughter,excitement, thrill,
affection, happiness, and contentment.

Classification of emotions according to:

Their origin: Basic vs. Derived emotion - fear, anger or rage, and love are the basic emotions because
they appear before

Their intensity: Mild vs. intense emotions -intense emotions include anger, fear, jealousy.

The feelings they create: pleasant vs. unpleasant - when physiological and psychological needs are
satisfied, they lead to pleasant emotions. The pleasant emotions include joy, jubilation, enchantment,
elation, enjoyment, love, affection, delectation, happiness, truth, thrill, excitement, pride, infatuation,
and sympathy.

Positive emotion
- Unpleasant emotions are gloom, sorrow, worry, anxiety, distress, disgust, dissatisfaction, repulsion,
shame, guilt, grief, frustration, embarrassment, envy, jealousy, hostility, hate, antagonism, annoyance,
and irritation.

Their effect: Positive vs. negative emotion

-Positive emotions are love,joy, and sympathy, irritation, while negative emotions are hatred, gloom,
and irritablity

Classification of emotions (contd)

An emotional upset and stirred individual is aroused all over and various physiological changes will
occur throughout his body. Those changes, however, vary with the kind of emotion and intensity
experienced by the individual. The following physiological changes are neural responses of the nervous
system

Physiological Changes in Emotion

Changes in the neural response - Although the nervous system is affected by emotional responses, it
is the autonomic system that is most affected. Its two main division - the parasympathetic and
sympathetic.

Changes on the heart rate and blood supply - Excitement and strong emotional experience increases
the speed and strength of heartbeat and the pulse rate becomes stronger than usual.

Changes in respiration - emotional behavior is manifested by changes in respiration. It is possible to

control respiration at times.
Duct glands responses - the secretion of the duct and ductless glands are manifested especially during
strong emotion. These reactions can be detected by a polygraph or lie detector device. However, this
instrument are susceptible to errors.

Endocrine glands reaction - The endocrine glands or ductless glands are also stimulated by strong
emotions.

Brain reactions - The hypothalamus in the brain has been identified as the seat of emotion.

Other bodily changes - When a person is emotionally tensed, the hair muscle contract making the hair
on the skin stand, the eyes dilate, the eyelids rise and the eyeballs protrude.

Facial expressions - We are able to tell easily by the expression of the face and the tone of voice
whether a person is happy, sad, eager or angry.

Vocal expression - Vocal expressions may indicate the kind of emotion displayed by the person.

Bodily movements - Bodily movement must be determined and detected.

Observable emotional manifestation

Measurement of emotion

Sphygmomanometer - to measure blood pressure in the arteries

Stethoscope - an instrument used in listening to sounds produced within the body

Electrocardiograph (ECG) - is used to record electric potentials associated with electric current that
traverses the heart and measure heart rate
Pneumograph - is used for recording chest movement during respiration

Galvanic skin response (GSR) - measures changes in sweating of the fingers and palm that
accompany emotional experiences, and are independent of perspiration under normal temperature

Polygraph or lie detector - is an instrument that records changes in heartbeat, blood pressure, and
breathing.

Digital blood pressure - is an instrument that measures blood pressure and pulse rate simultaneously

Theories of Emotion

Theories of Physiological Response - This the oldest theory of emotion. This is also called the James-
Lange Theory.

First step: we perceive the situation

Second step: we react. Our hearts pound and we run away

Third step: we realize, we are afraid

2. Hypothalamic theory of Emotion - This is also called the Cannon-Bard theory.

First step: the individual perceives a situation to be fearsome

Second step: hypothalamus takes over (being the control center of emotion)

Third step: physiological arousal prepares the individual to fight, run away to react
3. Cognitive Appraisal Theory - environmental cues (persons, objects and situations); Schachter-
Singer theory

4. Affective- Primacy theory - we feel an emotion before we have time to appraise the situation

5. Limbic Theory of Emotion - the visceral brain interprets feelings that arise from internal organs of
the body

6. Activation theory - Sensory feedback from the muscle to the central nervous system

7. Facial feedback theory- These feedback sensations from the movement of facial muscles and skin
are interpreted by the brain as emotional feelings.

Principles of emotions

1. Emotional needs express themselves one way or another.

2. Anger is as expression of need.

3. Our feeling and needs are not wrong or bad

4. Emotions are the gateway to vitality and feeling alive

5. We can address emotional issues and still save our true face

6. Immediate reactions to problems often disguise deeper feelings

7. We must clarify individual needs before solving the problems with others

We need to express positive feelings and communicate them

We must communicate strong negative feelings in ways that allow others to feel safe and not under
assault