Samenvatting CCAP-artikelen
Describe and explain the definitions, mechanisms, key points, research and studies of this article:
Week 1: Emotion theories
Scherer, K.R. (2000). Emotion. In M. Hewstone & W. Stroebe (Eds.). Introduction to Social Psychology: A European perspective (3rd. ed., pp.
151-191). Oxford: Blackwell.
The article "Emotion" by Klaus R. Scherer provides an overview of the concept of emotion
and its relevance to social psychology. The following are the key definitions and explanations
of the components of the article:
1. Emotion
A complex psychological phenomenon that involves physiological, cognitive, and
behavioral components. Emotions are short-lived, but intense and pervasive, and have
a subjective and conscious experience.
2. Theories of emotion: Scherer discusses the different theories of emotion, including the
James-Lange theory, which proposes that emotions are caused by physiological
responses to stimuli; the Cannon-Bard theory, which suggests that physiological
responses and emotional experiences occur simultaneously; and the Schachter-Singer
theory, which argues that emotions are the result of cognitive appraisals of
physiological arousal in a particular context.
3. Role of emotions in social interactions: Scherer highlights the importance of emotions
in social interactions, as they communicate information about one's internal state,
motivate behavior, and regulate social interactions.
4. Functions of emotions: Emotions serve several functions, including providing
information about the environment and oneself, preparing for action, and regulating
social interactions.
5. Influence of social and cultural factors on emotions: Scherer emphasizes the impact of
social and cultural factors, such as social norms, values, and beliefs, on emotions.
Different cultures may have different emotional display rules, and individuals may
vary in their ability to regulate their emotions in accordance with these rules.
6. Measurement of emotions: Scherer discusses the various techniques that have been
used to assess emotions, such as self-report measures, physiological measures, and
behavioral measures. However, he also highlights the limitations of these measures
and the challenges of accurately measuring emotions.
Introduction
Scherer notes that emotions are a complex psychological phenomenon that involves
physiological, cognitive, and behavioral components. He also highlights the significance of
emotions in social interactions and communication, as they provide information about one's
internal state and influence behavior. Furthermore, Scherer points out that emotions are
influenced by social and cultural factors, such as social norms and beliefs, and that the
accurate measurement of emotions is challenging.
Emotions play an important role in attitude change and it affects social interaction.
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,What is emotion?
James-Lange theory
Emotions are caused by physiological responses to stimuli. According to this theory, when
an individual encounters a stimulus, the body responds with a physiological reaction, such as
increased heart rate, sweating, or muscle tension. These bodily changes then lead to the
experience of an emotion. In other words, the theory suggests that we feel emotions because
of the physical changes in our bodies that occur in response to external stimuli.
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,The physiological component includes changes in bodily functions, such as heart rate,
respiration, and muscle tension. The cognitive component involves the appraisal and
evaluation of a situation, which can influence emotional experiences. The behavioral
component includes the expressive behavior that accompanies emotions, such as facial
expressions and body language.
Emotions are typically short-lived but intense and pervasive, with a subjective and conscious
experience.
Emotion as a psychosocial construct
Emotion is not a synonym for feeling, emotion is a construct and feeling is one of the
components of emotion. Other components:
Behavioral consequences of emotion:
Action tendency (fight or flight in situation)
Cognitive evaluation of emotion:
So, the components so far: feeling physiological changes, motor expression, action tendencies
and cognitive processing.
Instead of talking about emotional states/mood, we should refer
to emotion episodes to underlie the fact that emotion is dynamic
process, which has a beginning and an end and is of relatively
brief duration.
Schrerer has suggested that the subsystems of an organism become synchronized or coupled
during the emotion process in order toa allow the organism to cope with the emergency
created by the eliciting event.
Emotion is also defined as an episode of interrelated, synchronized changes in these
components in response to an event of major significance to the organism, the sequence
problem becomes an issue concerning the dynamics interrelationships between the
components in a particular emotional episode
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, Why do we have emotions?
Emotions serve as an adaptive function (Darwin), helping individuals to respond to their
environment and cope with different situations. Emotions provide information about one's
internal state, guide behavior, and help individuals to communicate with others.
Scherer discusses several theories of emotion:
1. The James-Lange theory
Proposes that emotions are caused by physiological responses to
stimuli.
2. Cannon-Bard theory
Suggests that physiological and emotional responses occur
simultaneously and independently.
3. The two-factor theory
Proposes that emotions are the result of both physiological arousal
and cognitive interpretation of the situation.
Social signally system
Emotions also signals a particular action tendency (aggression in the case of anger) which
can strongly determine the subsequent interaction process. Much of the interaction will
depend on the emotional signals you are sending. Emotion signals are important in
relationships, interacting in groups and in many other social domains.
Scherer also discusses the role of appraisal in emotional experience, which involves
evaluating a situation and determining its significance. Appraisal can influence the intensity
and quality of emotional experience and can vary depending on an individual's goals and
beliefs.
Additionally, Scherer discusses the importance of culture and social norms in shaping
emotional experience and expression. Cultural differences can influence the ways in which
individuals experience and express emotions, and social norms can influence whether
certain emotions are deemed acceptable or appropriate in each context.
The quasi-automatic nature of emotional responses
These responses can be an important mechanism for behavioral
flexibility, allowing individuals to respond quickly and efficiently
to changing situations. However, it is also important to be able
to regulate emotions when necessary to ensure that they are
appropriate and adaptive to the situation. In some cases, you
need the necessary activation to react in a certain situation.
‘Cold’ cognition refers to cognitive processes that are based on rational, deliberate analysis
of information. This type of cognition is relatively unaffected by emotions and is often
associated with careful, deliberate decision-making.
‘Hot’ cognition refers to cognitive processes that are influenced by emotions. This type of
cognition is often faster and more automatic than cold cognition and can be associated with
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