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Summary A - Z Psychology - in Society
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- University Of South Africa (Unisa)
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A-Z of PsychologyEmotions
1. Definition of the concept emotion
Emotions are one type of feeling
Emotions are:
a) feelings clearly linked to the meaning of
b) a particular situation
The way people express, describe, define and recognise their emotions depends on
factors like:
1) gender
2) age
3) cultural factors
4) the situation they are in
Emotion means to move thus and emotion can move us to do something
E.g. fear can move us to run away etc.
Definition of emotion =
a) combination of physiological arousal (change in heart rate, blood pressure etc.)
b) combined with
c) perceptual-cognitive processes and (thinking and subjective experience)
d) observable behavioural expressions ( crying or laughing)
1.1 Components of emotion
These components include: physiological; cognitive-perceptual and behavioural components
1.1.1 Physiological component
Regulated by Responsible for Divided into
automatic nervous activity of smooth sympathetic &
system muscles, glands and parasymphetic systems
blood vessels
Emotion = arousal
Restore Then parasymphetic Lead to bodily leads sympathetic
balance & system counter the changes to system to activate
help build up actions of arousal survival body for action
and conserve
energy
, In very intense emotion the effects of sympathetic nervous system can be so strong that it
can lead to heart attacks or sudden death in older persons or people with heart problems
Continued effects of sympathetic system can be damaging to the body
If the parasympathetic system continues its effects it can lead to lower blood pressure,
dizziness, fainting and even death = this is called parasymphetic rebound
Connection between arousal and emotion provide basis for things like lie detector tests
Device does not actually detect lies but rather measures emotional arousal by monitoring
changes in heart rate, breathing rate, amount of sweat on hands etc.
Idea is lying will increase physiological arousal seen in above changes
1.1.2 Cognitive-perceptual component
Emotions are very personal and rely on subjective experience (how you as an individual
interpret the situation)
Emotions about a specific emotion depends on what the person thinks about the situation
E.g. driving a car can be pleasurable for some or anxiety provoking for others
Thus the interpretation about an event influences the emotions we will experience
1.1.3 Behavioural component
Emotions usually expressed in body language or non-verbal behaviour
Bodily gestures and facial expressions show variety of basic emotions
Facial expressions like anger, fear, disgust, sadness & happiness is mostly the same
universally
But in certain cultures something like sticking out your tongue means disrespect but in
Chinese culture it is used to express surprise
So if someone is form another culture you must make sure the expression of emotion is not
misunderstood
1.2 Theories of emotion
Experience of emotion is result of interaction between physiological arousal
and psychological arousal
Psychological arousal = process whereby people
become aware of
situations and feelings
through conscious feeling
Arousal that involve physiological and psychological aspects = psycho-
physiological arousal
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