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Emotions I

Why Emotions?Classification of Emotions

Emotion and Reason

Why Emotions?

n Emotions seem to “take control” on occasion, biasing our perceptions and motivating us to behave in particular ways.

n We sometimes do things that seem irrational when under the influence of the “passions,” and we tend to hold a person less accountable for such acts.

n So why do we have emotions? What are they for?

What Emotions Are For

n Emotions are brain mechanisms that have evolved to promote the “right” behaviors under certain commonly encountered circumstances.

n Emotions add an evaluative dimension to experience, which turns out to be crucial for rational decision-making.

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Components of an Emotion

n Affectn This is subjective feeling: happiness, sadness,

anger, etc.n Cognitive reaction

n You recognize, or “know” what happened.n Physiological reaction

n Internal changes occur involving the autonomic nervous system and hormones.

n Behavioral reactionn You feel disposed to behave in particular ways,

depending on the emotion (e.g., lashing out at someone when angry).

Classifying the Emotions

n Several attempts have been made to classify emotions.

n Such schemes try to identify “primary” or “basic” emotions. Other emotions are then viewed as combinations of the primary emotions.

n Two such schemes were provided by Robert Plutchik and Richard Lazarus

Plutchik’s Classification

n Eight primary emotionsn Each emotion has associated with it a

n Common stimulusn Typical behavior

n Each emotion can vary in intensity; emotions we give different names may be the same emotion at various intensities.

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Plutchik’s Eight Primary Emotions (First Four)

Rejection; pushing away

Something gruesome or loathsome

Disgust

Search for help and comfort

Loss of something valued

Sadness

ProtectionThreat or dangerFear

Destruction of Obstacle

Blocking of goal-directed behavior

Anger

Plutchik’s Eight Primary Emotions (Last Four)

Reproduction; courting; mating

Potential mateJoy

Sharing; taking in; incorporating

A member of one’s own group; something of value

Acceptance

Exploration and searching

A new place or environment

Curiosity

Orientation; turning toward

A sudden, novel stimulus

Surprise

Lazarus’ Classification

n Richard Lazarus proposed a system of fifteen basic emotions.

n He associated each of these with a “relational theme” – a specific relationship or interaction between people and their environments.

n Examplesn Anger: Relational theme is a demeaning offense

against me and mine.

n Guilt: Having transgressed a moral imperative.

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Emotion and Reason

n Behavior promoted by emotions may not suit the current circumstances so that it appears irrational or produces undesirable effects.n Examples: Attacking the boss for not giving you

an expected raise; Poor public -speaking performance due to evaluation apprehension.

n Antonio Damasio proposed, based on clinical studies of brain-damaged individuals, that solid decision-making requires input from emotional-evaluative systems.