Psychology of Emotions

 

Introduction

Since the popularization of the James–Lange theory of emotion, the physiological component of emotion has been traditionally identified as activity in the autonomic nervous system and the visceral organs (e.g., the heart and lungs) that it innervates. However, some contemporary theorists hold that the neural basis of emotions resides in the central nervous system.

Emotion is one of the most controversial topics in psychology, a source of intense discussion and disagreement from the earliest philosophers and other thinkers to the present day. Most psychologists can probably agree on a description of emotion, e.g., what phenomena to include in a discussion of emotion. The enumeration of these parts of emotion is called the “components of emotion” here. These components are distinguished on the basis of physiological or psychological factors and include emotion faces, emotion elicitors, and emotion neural processes.

While most of us elicit emotions in a natural way, recent studies have revealed cultural variation in emotional phenomena, such as the appraisals of emotional events, the interpersonal events that elicit emotion, the frequency of experienced emotions, the duration of emotional experiences, judgments of emotional facial expressions, and memory for emotional events. 

Emotions and Self-knowledge

            Emotions are one of our avenues to self-knowledge, since few kinds of self-knowledge could matter more than knowing one’s own repertoire of emotional responses. At the same time, emotions are both the cause and the subject of many failures of self-knowledge. Their complexity entails much potential to mislead or be misled. Insofar as most emotions involve belief, they inherit the susceptibility of the latter to self-deception.

            Emotions typically involve more pervasive bodily manifestations than other conscious states.  Like the diary of emotions, certain reactions to a specific situation varies along with intensity, type, and range of intentional objects.  With the three-day list of emotions, it clearly defines ones ends and priorities and the regulation of social life.  Most importantly is the gaining of the consciousness of the natural-occuring reactions that would build up emotions.  By summing up the elicited emotions in the diary of emotions, it will give a person the awareness of ones own behavior to a specified instant.

            With James-Lange theory of emotion had stated that emotions arises from physiological arousal, that is to simplify that happiness comes from smiling while sadness comes from crying.  Such emotions scaled in the diary involves both physiological and cognitive label.  The specific emotion experienced actually depends on how you interpret the situation.

Expression of Emotions            

Regardless of approach, certain facial expressions are associated with particular human emotions. Research shows that people categorize emotion faces in a similar way across cultures, that similar facial expressions tend to occur in response to particular emotion eliciting events, and that people produce simulations of emotion faces that are characteristic of each specific emotion.

Happy expressions are universally and easily recognized, and are interpreted as conveying messages related to enjoyment, pleasure, a positive disposition, and friendliness.

Sad expressions are often conceived as opposite to happy ones, but this view is too simple, although the action of the mouth corners is opposite. Sad expressions convey messages related to loss, bereavement, discomfort, pain, helplessness, etc.

Anger expressions are seen increasingly often in modern society, as daily stresses and frustrations underlying anger seem to increase, but the expectation of reprisals decrease with the higher sense of personal security. Anger is a primary concomitant of interpersonal aggression, and its expression conveys messages about hostility, opposition, and potential attack. Anger is a common response to anger expressions, thus creating a positive feedback loop and increasing the likelihood of dangerous conflict.

The abovementioned emotions are the most frequently experienced emotions in the diary of emotions.

Conclusion

            The study of the psychology of emotions is a work in progress that began from the earliest of its time.  It then evolved along with innovative findings of next generation psychologist trying to unfold the thematic nature of emotions.  Some discoveries would contradict to the past findings.  Nevertheless, the view of the psychology of emotions is getting clearer with each new breakthroughs made.  Though we are getting closer and closer to the disclosure of this matter, the fact that many observations are in opposing views, makes it still unclear as to clarify exact results as a basis for identifying emotions. 

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