GROUP 16 PRESENTATION

GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY PROJECT WORK (CH 251)

CONCEPT OF EMOTION
Emotions do have an impact on an individual's doings, behavior, and attitude. Very strong
emotions being either positive or negative can stem from different sources which can cause you to
take actions that you might not normally perform or even cause you to avoid situations you enjoy.
With that, researchers have therefore identified various theories explaining how human emotions
rise.

EMBODIED EMOTIONS
The view of embodied emotion believes that emotions are the emotions of the body, including the
brain. The anatomical structure of the body, the way of body moves, and the movement experience
of the body determine how we process emotion. To sum it all up, embodied emotions simply mean
we feel emotions with our bodies. So, the feeling of anxiety and fear that might accompany public
speaking is expressed physiologically with responses in the body such as sweating and an
increased heart rate. This physiological arousal is caused by the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

NEUROLOGICAL THEORY OF EMOTIONS.

This theory proposes that activity within the brain leads to emotional responses. Walter B Cannon
and Philip Bard proposed a new theory, based on their findings by conducting operations on
various parts of the brain, including the hypothalamus and cerebral cortex. The limbic system is a
group of interconnected structures located deep within the brain. It’s the part of the brain that’s
responsible for behavioral and emotional responses. Scientists haven’t reached an agreement about
the full list of structures that make up the limbic system, but the following structures are generally
accepted as part of the group:

1. Hypothalamus. In addition to controlling emotional responses, the hypothalamus is also

involved in sexual responses, hormone release, and regulating body temperature.

2. Hippocampus. The hippocampus helps preserve and retrieve memories. It also plays a role in
how you understand the spatial dimensions of your environment.

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3. Amygdala. The amygdala helps coordinate responses to things in your environment, especially
those that trigger an emotional response. This structure plays an important role in fear and anger.

4. Limbic cortex. This part contains two structures, the cingulate gyrus and the parahippocampal
gyrus. Together, they impact mood, motivation, and judgment.

WHICH PART OF THE BRAIN CONTROLS THE FOLLOWING?

1. ANGER
Anger, much like fear, is a response to threats or stressful situations in the environment. It is
controlled by the amygdala, which stimulates the hypothalamus, triggering the fight-or-flight
response. The prefrontal cortex also plays a role in regulating anger, and damage to this area can
lead to difficulties in controlling emotions, especially anger and aggression.

2. HAPPINESS

Happiness is linked to a state of well-being and satisfaction, with imaging studies suggesting that
the limbic cortex and the precuneus are involved in the happiness response. The precuneus,
responsible for memory retrieval and self-awareness, may process information that leads to
feelings of happiness. People with larger gray matter volume in the right precuneus tend to report
higher levels of happiness.

3. LOVE

The beginnings of romantic love are associated with the stress response triggered by the
hypothalamus. Hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and vasopressin play key roles in romantic
love. Dopamine is linked to the body's reward system, making love a desirable feeling. Oxytocin,
known as the "love hormone," promotes social bonding and feelings of calmness and contentment.
Vasopressin also contributes to social bonding with a partner.

4. FEAR

The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls fear. When faced with threatening situations,
the amygdala stimulates the hypothalamus to trigger the fight-or-flight response. This response
involves the release of hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, leading to physical changes such as
increased heart rate and sweating. Damage to the amygdala can result in inappropriate responses

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to danger. Additionally, the amygdala is involved in fear learning, where associations between
certain situations and feelings of fear are formed.

EXAMPLES REGARDING THE NEUROLOGICAL THEORY OF

EMOTIONS.
1. For example, seeing a snake might prompt both the feeling of fear (an emotional response) and
a racing heartbeat (a physical reaction).

2. A job interview: Many people find job interviews stressful. Imagine you have a job interview
tomorrow morning for a position you want. Thinking about the interview might leave you feeling

nervous or worried. You might also feel physical sensations such as tremors, tense muscles, or a
rapid heartbeat, especially as the interview approaches.

3. Moving into a new home: For many people, moving into a new home is a source of happiness
and excitement. Imagine you’ve just moved into a new home with your partner or spouse. Your
new home is larger than the apartment you lived in before. It has enough space for the children
you hope to have together. As you unpack boxes, you feel happy. Tears well in your eyes. Your
chest is tight, and it’s almost difficult to breathe.

4. Divorce of parents: Children also experience physical and emotional effects in response to
significant events. An example is the separation or divorce of their parents. Imagine you’re 8 years
old. Your parents just told you that they’re separating and will probably get a divorce. You feel
sad and angry. Your stomach is upset. You think you might be sick.

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REFERENCES
1. LeDoux, J. E. (2000), Emotion circuits in the brain, Annual Review of Neuroscience, 23(1),
155-184.

2. Phelps, E. A., & LeDoux, J. E. (2005), Contributions of the amygdala to emotion processing:
From animal models to human behavior, Neuron, 48(2), 175-187pp

3. Cannon, W. B., & Bard, P. (1927). Emotional disturbances following experimental destruction
of the frontal lobes. Psychiatric Quarterly, 1(3), 457-471pp.

GROUP 16 MEMBERS
1. Peprah Fokuo Perry

2. Pappoe A. Richlove

3. Owusu Joseph Afriyie

4. Otibu Nana Kwame

5. Owiredu Dennis Fosu