emotion

Question 2

What are the three elements of emotion according to the American Psychological Association (APA)?

Answer 2

Experiential: Subjective feelings (e.g., “I feel scared”)
Physiological: Body reactions (e.g., increased heart rate, sweating)
Behavioral: Actions (e.g., running, facial expressions)

These elements help in understanding the complexity of emotional experiences.

Question 3

What is the traditional (stimulus-response) view of emotion?

Answer 3

Emotions are automatic, bottom-up responses to external stimuli or internal states. They are universal and innate, such as basic emotions like happiness, fear, and anger.

This view emphasizes the biological basis of emotions.

Question 4

What are the six basic and universal emotions proposed by Paul Ekman?

Answer 4

• Happiness
• Sadness
• Fear
• Disgust
• Surprise
• Anger

These emotions are recognized across cultures.

Question 5

What is the Facial Action Coding System (FACS)?

Answer 5

A system created by Paul Ekman to quantify facial expressions by analyzing muscle movements to study emotions.

FACS is widely used in psychological research and therapy.

Question 6

What are microexpressions and why are they significant?

Answer 6

Microexpressions are brief, involuntary facial expressions lasting about 0.04 seconds that reveal true underlying emotions, even if someone is trying to hide them.

Understanding microexpressions can enhance emotional intelligence.

Question 7

What is Darwin’s view on emotional expressions?

Answer 7

Emotions are hardwired and innate, with expressions serving specific functions, such as preparing for a fight or showing relaxation.

This perspective highlights the evolutionary significance of emotions.

Question 8

What does the Theory of Constructed Emotions by Lisa Feldman Barrett propose?

Answer 8

Emotions are constructed from sensory experiences, past experiences, and context. They are not hardwired but are shaped by our brain using interoception (sensory information from internal organs).

This theory challenges the universality of emotions.

Question 9

What is interoception in the context of emotions?

Answer 9

Interoception is the brain’s representation of internal bodily sensations (e.g., heart rate, breathing) that contribute to the construction of emotions.

It plays a crucial role in how we experience and label our emotions.

Question 10

What is affect and how does it relate to emotions?

Answer 10

Affect is the basic mental state (pleasant/unpleasant, calm/agitated) that precedes emotions. It serves as the foundation for the construction of emotions.

Affect influences emotional responses and their intensity.

Question 11

What is degeneracy (equifinality) in the context of emotions?

Answer 11

Degeneracy refers to the idea that many different combinations of neural activity can produce the same emotional outcome (e.g., fear).

This concept emphasizes the complexity of emotional processing.

Question 12

How does the Theory of Constructed Emotions view emotions differently from traditional theories?

Answer 12

Traditional theories view emotions as discrete and biologically hardwired. The Theory of Constructed Emotions suggests that emotions are not discrete but are combinations of affect (valence and arousal) shaped by experiences and context.

This theory allows for a more nuanced understanding of emotional experiences.