Nature of emotion

Human is emotional being par excellence. Emotions continuously colour our experience- our likes, dislikes, our joys and aversion. Our emotions have a great impact on others when we express them in ways that can be perceived by others.

What is emotion:

Emotion a subjective feeling state which can influence perception, thinking, and behaviour usually accompanied by facial and bodily expression. The word emotion literally means stirred-up or excited state. A psychologist usually distinguish three components of any emotion.

• Subjective experience
• Physiological arousal
• Expression

The subjective components in we attach to our emotions, such as fear, anger, sadness, joy
The physiological components of all the bodily changes that occur in emotions. For example when “ fearful, “ a lump in the throat” The expressive components the body posture and facial expressions for example tense muscle and a wide eye stare often express fear.

FUNCTION OF EMOTIONS

Emotion plays a very crucial role in our lives. Emotions play major in interpersonal level but also important in the area of intrapersonal and social culture relationship Interpersonal function of emotions describe the role of emotions with us. Intrapersonal it describes the meaning of emotions relationships ours with others. Social and cultural describe the meaning of emotions effective functioning of culture at large.

Types of emotions

Emotion exists in such a variety of forms and intensities. Although many different systems of classification have been proposed, there is as yet no universal agreement among psychologists. Commonly used distinctions are :

• Positive and negative emotions
• Primary and mixed emotions
• Opposite emotions

Emotional intensity positive versus negative emotions:

positive emotions tend to enhance one’s Wellbeing and promote a constructive relationship with others some of the positive emotions are love, joy, happiness. Negative emotions tend to decrease one’s sense of well being and disturb relationships with others ( Izard,1971)

Primary versus Mixed Emotion: many psychologists likens emotions to colours. The primary emotions include, at happiness, disgust, surprise, sadness, fear. A complex emotion such as disappointment is often considered a mixture of sadness and surprise, while jealousy is considered a combination of love and anger. ( Izard,1971,1979;Plutchik)

BASIC EMOTIONS

Paul Ekman identified six basic emotions he suggested that they are universal in all human being. The emotions he identified were happiness, sadness, anger, disgust, surprise, fear.

A THREE DIMENSIONAL CLASSIFICATION

Robert Plutchik model that combines the foregoing four distinctions among emotions. The model is composed of eight primary emotions – fear, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, anticipation, joy and anticipation.

Happiness: happiness is one of the basic emotions, but the thing that creates happiness is influenced by culture to culture. It is a feeling of pleasant emotional state. Many believed that health and happiness are connected. Many types of research say it plays a crucial role in mental health as well as physical health.

Sadness: emotion which is often called transient state .sadness is often experienced by all . some people experience severe and prolonged sadness it may lead to “depression “. It is typically characterised by a feeling of grief, disappointment.

Angry: It is the most powerful emotion characterised by agitation, frustration, hostility. Often experience physiological reaction, increased in heart rate, sweating change in a facial expression like frowning change in voice tone ( yelling).

Surprise: It is another type of emotion of the individual experience. Surprise can be positive, negative or neutral. Facial expression change can be seen. For example, you came back from the office and all your family members give you a surprise for your birthday

Fear: It is the most powerful emotions individuals go through individuals experience flight and fight response. For example, an individual who is afraid of a dog. Physiological changes we can experience increased heart rate, palpitations, sweating. Fear can be defined as an emotional response to a sudden threat.

Conclusion

Emotions can often be read from a person‘s body language “. Facial expression is particularly important in this regard. Emotions play a crucial part in every individual life.

Reference
Morgan and king introduction to psychology