MEP - Emotion as a Psychological State Lesson

Smiley face.

Emotion

Emotions are a complex psychological state with three components:

  • a subjective experience
  • a physiological response
  • a behavioral or expressive response

Emotions are intense, short-lived, and prompt some type of action. Across cultures, we all share the basic emotions of fear, surprise, anger, disgust, happiness, sadness, contempt, excitement, shame, and guilt. They are the biologically determined products of evolution. Studies have found emotions to have two dimensions: pleasant or unpleasant and those classified by the level of arousal associated with the emotion.

Different facial expressions

Emotions and Facial Expressions

Humans have about 7,000 unique facial expressions which are "hard-wired" for emotions. Cultural differences in emotion are usually expressed by facial expressions. These social and cultural rules that regulate emotional expression are called display rules. Paul Ekman studied the facial expressions of emotions for decades. He determined that out of the 7,000 unique facial expressions humans have there are a few that are shared culturally. These expressions include happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear.

Please take a moment to view this short video on the components of emotion and universal emotions.

Physical Arousal and Emotions

Different emotions stimulate different physiological responses. For example, fear causes a decrease in skin temperature, while anger causes an increase. Emotions also can activate our sympathetic nervous or flight or fight response system. After the sympathetic nervous system has been activated, the parasympathetic system takes over and helps us return to a calm state.

The Brain and Emotion

One of the most important brain structures in explaining emotion is the amygdala. It is a part of the limbic system that is involved in emotion, memory, and motivation. Neural pathways deeply embedded in the amygdala link it to other areas of the brain. It is also the key structure in the emotional response to fear in humans. Using brain scans it has been shown that the amygdala is activated when we are faced with a threatening image, face, or sound.

Culture and Emotion

The way individuals express perceive, and experience emotions is profoundly influenced by cultural norms and values. Language and culture can influence the types of emotions that are valued and expressed, as well as the ways in which emotions are communicated verbally and nonverbally. A person's ability to regulate and cope with emotions can also be influenced by cultural factors. For psychologists, understanding culture's influence on emotional experiences is crucial, as it helps explain the differences in emotional experiences and expressions between cultures, and informs the development of culturally sensitive interventions for individuals experiencing emotional difficulties.

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