Theories of Emotion | Child Development and Pedagogy for CTET Preparation - CTET & State TET PDF Download

Theories of Emotion

• The terms emotion and mood are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but within psychology, they represent distinct concepts. 
• Emotion typically refers to a strong, subjective, affective state triggered by a specific experience. Emotions are usually consciously felt and intentional. 
• On the other hand, mood describes a longer-lasting, less intense emotional state that isn't necessarily tied to a particular event. Moods may not be consciously acknowledged and lack the intentional nature associated with emotions. 

Emotion

Toddlers can swiftly transition through various emotions, from extreme happiness to profound sadness within moments. This emotional spectrum includes feelings of joy, despair, anger, fear, and surprise.

Components of Emotion

• The James-Lange theory of emotion asserts that emotions arise from physiological arousal. 
• Recall what you have learned about the sympathetic nervous system and our fight or flight response when threatened. 
• If you were to encounter some threat in your environment, like a venomous snake in your backyard, your sympathetic nervous system would initiate significant physiological arousal, which would make your heart race and increase your respiration rate. 

According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, you would only experience a feeling of fear after this physiological arousal had taken place. Furthermore, different arousal patterns would be associated with different feelings.

Cannon-Bard Theory:

• According to this view, physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously, yet independently (Lang, 1994). 

So, when you see the venomous snake, you feel fear at exactly the same time that your body mounts its fight or flight response. This emotional reaction would be separate and independent of the physiological arousal, even though they co-occur.

The Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion:

• They emphasized the role of cognitive appraisal in determining the experienced emotion.
• According to their theory, misattribution of arousal can lead to incorrect emotional experiences.
• They conducted an experiment involving injections of epinephrine to test their theory.

Theories of Emotions

Expectations and Emotional Responses

• Participants anticipating physiological arousal did not attribute their emotional changes to the arousal.
• Men not expecting arousal were more likely to associate emotions with their confederate's behavior.
• Interpreting arousal as a change in emotional state was influenced by the context.
• Only those unaware of impending arousal used context to explain emotional shifts.

Relationship Between Physiological Arousal and Emotional Responses

• Strong physiological arousal is linked to intense emotional reactions.
• Theorists proposed using physiological signs like increased heart rate and sweating to detect truthfulness.
• Common belief: Most individuals exhibit physiological arousal when being dishonest.
• The polygraph, or lie detector test, measures physiological responses to determine deception.
• Interpreting increased arousal in response to specific questions as potential dishonesty indicators.

Polygraph Tests

• Polygraphs are widely used, but their accuracy and validity are highly debatable.
• No conclusive evidence supports a consistent physiological pattern associated with lying.
• Interpreting physiological responses as indicators of deception lacks empirical backing.
• When asked to give a lecture, individuals can control their emotions consciously, akin to managing public speaking anxiety.
• Automatic Emotion Regulation (AER) involves the unconscious control of emotions, impacting various emotional aspects.
• AER, like scripts or schemas, operates automatically without conscious effort, akin to riding a bicycle once learned.
• Adaptive AER fosters better health outcomes compared to maladaptive AER, crucial in stress management and psychological well-being.
• Effective strategies identified by Mauss and colleagues can reduce negative emotions, enhancing psychological health.
• Challenges in emotion measurement exist, per Mauss, suggesting room for improvement in how emotions are assessed.
• Alternative perspectives on emotions can revolutionize our understanding of emotional processes.

Emotions as Constructed Predictions:

• According to Barrett, emotions are not innate but are constructed based on experiences.
• Emotions, in the constructivist theory, are predictions that shape our perception of the world.
• For instance, the same physiological state can lead to different emotions based on your predictions.

Concepts and Emotions:

• Barrett extends the concept of emotions as predictions similar to how concepts are categories of information.
• Emotions, like concepts, are constructions influenced by our predictions.
• For example, interpreting a churning stomach in a bakery as hunger versus interpreting it as worry during a medical wait.

Zajonc's Perspective:

• Zajonc suggests that some emotions occur before cognitive processing, like feeling fear instantly in response to a loud noise.
• He also mentions the idea of immediate likes or dislikes without clear reasons.

LeDoux's View on Emotions:

• LeDoux highlights emotions that do not necessarily involve cognition, particularly fear.
• Research shows the amygdala's crucial role in processing fear responses.
• There are two pathways for fear stimuli processing in the brain, one quick and the other more detailed.

Emotional Expression and Emotion Regulation

• Emotion regulation involves how individuals manage their emotional experiences and expressions in response to various situations. Strategies can be covert (internal) or overt (involving others or actions).
• Aldao and Dixon (2014) explored the impact of overt emotional regulation strategies on psychopathology. They found that overt strategies were more predictive of mental health issues than covert strategies.
• Research on pregaming (heavy drinking before social events) and emotion regulation strategies indicated a complex relationship with alcohol-related problems (Pederson, 2016).
• Further studies are necessary to comprehend adaptive and maladaptive patterns in emotion regulation (Aldao & Dixon-Gordon, 2014).

Psychology in Music

• Neuroscientist Joseph LeDoux not only studies emotional processing in rats but also serves as the lead vocalist in his band, The Amygdaloids, integrating psychological concepts into their music.
• An example of this integration can be seen in their song "Fearing."

Important Points

• Body Language: Non-verbal communication through gestures, posture, and facial expressions.
• Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion: The theory proposing that emotional and physiological responses occur simultaneously.
• Cognitive-Mediational Theory: A theory suggesting that thoughts and interpretations influence emotions.
• Components of Emotion: The various elements that contribute to the experience of emotion, including physiological arousal, subjective feelings, cognitive interpretation, and behavioral expressions.
• Emotion: A complex psychological state involving a subjective experience, physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, and cognitive interpretation.
• Facial Feedback Hypothesis: The idea that facial expressions can influence emotions.
• James-Lange Theory of Emotion: The theory proposing that emotions arise from physiological arousal.
• Polygraph: A device used to measure physiological responses like heart rate and sweating, often associated with lie detection.
• Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion: A theory suggesting that emotions involve both physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation.