Theoretical Approaches

in Studying Emotions
ARGIE BALASBAS MABAG
MAIS-Advanced Science Education Student

S
 Four Theoretical
Perspectives in the
Study of Emotions
 The Darwinian Perspective
S The central organizing idea of the Darwinian perspective is the
notion that emotions are evolved phenomena with important
survival functions that have been selected for because they have
solved certain problems we have faced as a species. As such, we
should see the same emotions, more or less, in all humans. In
addition, since humans share an evolutionary past with other
mammals, we should expect to observe similarities in the emotions
of closely-related species.
 The Jamesian Perspective
S According to William James, we experience emotions because our
bodies have evolved to respond automatically and adaptively to
features of the environment that have survival-related
significance to us. Our bodies respond first and our experience of
these changes constitutes what we call emotion. This formulation
seems clear enough until we start asking precisely what is meant by
bodily changes.
 The Cognitive Perspective
S The central assumption of the cognitive perspective
and its associated tradition of research is that thought
and emotion are inseparable. More specifically, all
emotions are seen within this perspective as being
dependent on appraisal, the process by which events
in the environment are judged as good or bad for us.
 The Social Constructivist
Perspective
S Social constructivists believe that emotions are cultural
products that owe their meaning and coherence to learned
social rules. According to Averill (1980) , "emotions are not
just remnants of our phylogenetic past, nor can they be
explained in strictly physiological terms. Rather, they are
social constructions, and they can be fully understood only on
a social level of analysis"
Six Major
Theories of
Emotion
S
 Evolutionary Theory of Emotion

S Feelings of love and affection lead people to seek mates and

reproduce. Feelings of fear compel people to either fight or flee the
source of danger.
S According to the evolutionary theory of emotion, our emotions exist
because they serve an adaptive role. Emotions motivate people to
respond quickly to stimuli in the environment, which helps
improve the chances of success and survival.
 The James-Lange Theory of
Emotion
S This theory suggests that when you see an external stimulus, that
leads to a physiological reaction. Your emotional reaction is
dependent upon how you interpret those physical reactions.
S The James-Lange theory proposes that you will interpret your
physical reactions and conclude that you are frightened ("I am
trembling. Therefore, I am afraid"). According to this theory of
emotion, you are not trembling because you are frightened.
 The Cannon-Bard Theory of
Emotion
S Cannon suggested that people can experience physiological
reactions linked to emotions without actually feeling those
emotions.
S Cannon also suggested that emotional responses occur much too
quickly for them to be simply products of physical states.
S Cannon and Bard’s theory suggests that the physical and
psychological experience of emotion happen at the same time and
that one does not cause the other.
 The Schachter-Singer
Theory of Emotion
S This theory suggests that the physiological arousal occurs first, and
then the individual must identify the reason for this arousal to
experience and label it as an emotion. A stimulus leads to a
physiological response that is then cognitively interpreted and labeled
which results in an emotion.
S Like the James-Lange theory, the Schachter-Singer theory proposes that
people do infer emotions based on physiological responses. The critical
factor is the situation and the cognitive interpretation that people use
to label that emotion.
 Cognitive Appraisal Theory
S According to appraisal theories of emotion, thinking must occur first
before experiencing emotion.
S According to this theory, the sequence of events first involves a stimulus,
followed by thought which then leads to the simultaneous experience of
a physiological response and the emotion. For example, if you
encounter a bear in the woods, you might immediately begin to think that
you are in great danger. This then leads to the emotional experience of
fear and the physical reactions associated with the fight-or-flight response.
 Facial-Feedback Theory of
Emotion
S The facial-feedback theory of emotions suggests that facial expressions
are connected to experiencing emotions.
S Supporters of this theory suggest that emotions are directly tied to
changes in facial muscles. For example, people who are forced to smile
pleasantly at a social function will have a better time at the event than
they would if they had frowned or carried a more neutral facial
expression.
Mind/Body Connection:
How Your Emotions
Affect Your Health
Reference: American Academy of Physicians (2017) S
S People who have good emotional health are aware of their thoughts,
feelings, and behaviors. They have learned healthy ways to cope with
the stress and problems that are a normal part of life. They feel good
about themselves and have healthy relationships.
S However, many things that happen in your life can disrupt your
emotional health. These can lead to strong feelings of sadness, stress, or
anxiety. Even good or wanted changes can be as stressful as unwanted
changes.
S Poor emotional health can weaken your body’s immune system. This
makes you more likely to get colds and other infections during
emotionally difficult times. Also, when you are feeling stressed, anxious,
or upset, you may not take care of your health as well as you should.
You may not feel like exercising, eating nutritious foods, or taking
medicine that your doctor prescribes. You may abuse alcohol, tobacco,
or other drugs.
Things to consider:
S back pain
S change in appetite
S chest pain
S constipation or diarrhea
S dry mouth
S extreme tiredness
S general aches and pains
S headaches
S high blood pressure
S insomnia (trouble sleeping)
S lightheadedness
S palpitations (the feeling that your heart is
racing)
S sexual problems
S shortness of breath
S stiff neck
S sweating
S upset stomach
S weight gain or loss.
When you sing your loved one’s praises…

S Expressing the affectionate feelings you have towards

your partner lowers cholesterol levels. A study
reported in the journal Human Communication
Research showed that when people spent three 20-
minute sessions per week writing about loved ones, their
cholesterol count fell within five weeks.
 When you’re having a blazing row…

S According to scientists at Ohio State University, a 30-minute argument with

your partner can slow your body’s ability to heal by at least a day. If you
argue regularly, that healing time is doubled. Researchers tested couples with a
suction device that created tiny blisters on their arms. When the couples were
asked to talk about an area of disagreement that provoked emotion, the wounds
took about 40 per cent longer to heal than those of the control group. This
response, say the researchers, is caused by a surge in cytokines, the immune
molecules that trigger inflammation. High levels of cytokines are linked to
arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
 When you’re stressed-out…

S However, long-lasting or chronic stress is a different matter. ‘Stress leaves you in

a fight-or-flight state in which your body turns off long-term building and repair
projects,’ says Robert Sapolsky, professor of biological sciences at Stanford.
‘Memory and accuracy are impaired. Patrols for invaders aren’t sent out, you
tire more easily, you can become depressed and reproduction gets downgraded.’
Exposure to chronic stress has been found to raise risk of cardiovascular
disease and diabetes.
 When you bottle things up…

S When it comes to venting our anger or holding it in, the jury’s out as to which
works best or worst for us. A long-term study in Michigan looked at women who
suppressed their anger in confrontations with their partners and found that
they had twice the risk of dying from conditions such as heart attack, stroke
or cancer. Yet giving in to impulses to shout abuse could cause problems, too.
Angry outbursts may last only a few minutes, but they can cause surges in
blood pressure and heart rate, raising the risk of heart attack by 19 per cent,
concludes a study at University College, London.
 When you’re in love…
S Falling in love raises levels of nerve growth factor for about a year,
according to researchers at the University of Pavia in Italy. Nerve
growth factor, a hormone-like substance, helps restore the nervous
system and improves memory by triggering the growth of new brain
cells. It’s also associated with the feeling of being loved-up and
contented, inducing a calming effect on both the body and the mind.
 When you’re feeling down…

S Depression, pessimism and apathy affect our health in several ways.

‘Low mood is linked to low levels of serotonin and dopamine, the feel-
good neurotransmitters in the brain,’ says London GP Dr Jane
Flemming. ‘Serotonin plays a role in regulating pain perception and
could be the reason why 45 per cent of patients with depression also
suffer aches and pains.’
 When you have a fit of the giggles…

S In a study of the effects of laughter, Dr Lee Berk of Loma Linda

University in California discovered that levels of mood-boosting beta-
endorphins increased by 27 per cent, while human growth hormone, a
substance that aids sleep and cellular repair, rose by 87 per cent. The effects
were achieved by watching a humorous film. In another study, the mere
anticipation of laughter was enough to reduce levels of the stress hormones
cortisol and adrenalin. Cardiologists at the University of Maryland
Medical Center found that laughing can reduce the risk of a heart attack
by curbing unwanted stress.
 When you burst into tears…

S US biochemist Dr William Frey compared the tears of women who

cried for emotional reasons with those whose eyes welled up on
exposure to onions. Emotional tears were found to contain high levels
of the hormones and neurotransmitters associated with stress. Frey
concluded that the purpose of emotional crying is to remove stress
chemicals. Holding back tears leaves the body prone to anxiety,
including weakened immunity, impaired memory and poor
digestion.
 When you’re consumed with jealousy…

S Jealousy is one of the most powerful and painful of human emotions

– and the most difficult to control. Women’s jealousy is usually
triggered by the suspicion of emotional betrayal, while men typically
become jealous when they suspect they have sexual competition.
‘Jealousy is a complex mix of fear, stress and anger,’ says Flemming.
‘These three states trigger the fight-or-flight response, usually in quite
an intense way. Someone in the grip of jealousy is likely to suffer
raised blood pressure, heart rate and adrenalin levels, weakened
immunity and anxiety.’
 When you can’t let go of an argument…

S Researchers reporting in the International Journal Of

Psychophysiology found that it’s not just angry outbursts that cause
blood pressure to rise – during the course of a week, every time their
subjects recalled the situation, their stress levels soared. So, if
you’ve recently had a dispute, try to distract yourself so you don’t
dwell on it.
 When you count your blessings…

S Feelings of gratitude boost immunity, lower blood pressure and speed

healing. Dr Rollin McCraty of the Institute of HeartMath in the US is
studying the link between emotions and physical health, and has found that, like
love, gratitude and contentment also trigger oxytocin. ‘Oxytocin is secreted by the
heart whenever you feel open and connected,’ says McCraty.‘It switches off stress
by causing the nervous system to relax. Oxygenation to tissues increases
significantly, as does healing. We’ve found that gratitude is also associated
with more harmonious electric activity around both the heart and brain –
the very state in which these organs operate most effectively.’
When to see a doctor

S If your negative feelings don’t go away and are so strong

that they keep you from enjoying life, it’s especially
important for you to talk to your doctor. You may have
what doctors call “major depression.” Depression is a
medical illness that can be treated with individualized
counseling, medicine, or both.
 Questions to ask your doctor

S How can I better cope with stress?

S Are my health problems causing my stress or is my stress
causing my health problems?
S I don’t think I’m under stress, but is my body telling me
that I am?
S Everything in my life is good. Why am I not happy?
Express your feelings in appropriate ways

S If feelings of stress, sadness, or anxiety are causing physical

problems, keeping these feelings inside can make you feel worse. It’s
okay to let your loved ones know when something is bothering you.
However, keep in mind that your family and friends may not
always be able to help you deal with your feelings appropriately. At
these times, ask someone outside the situation for help. Try asking
your family doctor, a counselor, or a religious advisor for advice and
support to help you improve your emotional health.
 Live a balanced life
S Focus on the things that you are grateful for in your life. Try not to
obsess about the problems at work, school, or home that lead to
negative feelings. This doesn’t mean you have to pretend to be happy
when you feel stressed, anxious, or upset. It’s important to deal with
these negative feelings, but try to focus on the positive things in your
life, too. You may want to use a journal to keep track of things that
make you feel happy or peaceful. You may also need to find ways to
let go of some things in your life that make you feel stressed and
overwhelmed. Make time for things you enjoy.
 Develop resilience
S People with resilience are able to cope with stress in a healthy
way. Resilience can be learned and strengthened with
different strategies. These include having social support,
keeping a positive view of yourself, accepting change, and
keeping things in perspective. A counselor or therapist can
help you achieve this goal with cognitive behavioral therapy
(CBT). Ask your doctor if this is a good idea for you.
 Calm your mind and body
S Relaxation methods, such as meditation, listening to music,
listening to guided imagery CDs or mp3s, yoga, and Tai Chi are
useful ways to bring your emotions into balance. Free guided
imagery videos are also available on YouTube.
S Meditation is a form of guided thought. It can take many forms.
For example, you may do it by exercising, stretching, or breathing
deeply. Ask your family doctor for advice about relaxation methods.
 Take care of yourself

S To have good emotional health, it’s important to take care

of your body by having a regular routine for eating healthy
meals, getting enough sleep, and exercising to relieve pent-up
tension. Avoid overeating and don’t abuse drugs or alcohol.
Using drugs or alcohol just causes other issues, such as
family and health problems.
 “… With all its sham, drudgery and
broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.”
-“Desiderata”, Max Ehrmann
References:
S Cannon, W. B. (1927) The James-Lange theory of emotion: A critical examination and
an alternative theory. American Journal of Psychology, 39, 10-124.

S James, W. (1884). What is an Emotion? Mind, 9, 188-205.

S Myers, D. G. (2004). Theories of Emotion. Psychology: Seventh Edition. New York, NY:
Worth Publishers.

S Cornelius, R. (2000). Theoretical Approaches to Emotion. ISCA Archive: Poughkeepsie,

NY USA

S American Academy of Physicians (2017)