7.3: Theories of Emotions

emotions

subjective sense or feelings associated with positive and negative events or thoughts

moods

emotions that last for an extended period of time

affect

refers to subjective experiences of emotions and moods

depression and bipolar disorder are considered affective disorders

classical theory of emotions

each emotion is associated with specific body language, facial expressions, and physiological responses

universality of emotions 

idea put forth by Charles Darwin and Paul Ekman that people around the world have relatively the same expressions for emotions 

Plutchik’s wheel of emotions

diagram of eight primary emotions and subcategories of emotions

wheel reflects intensity of each emotion and how emotions can blend to form new emotions

James-Lange theory

concludes that emotions are a product of brain’s interpretation of physiological responses to a stimulus or an event

Cannon-Bard theory 

subjective or cognitive feelings associated with emotion are separate from physiological response 

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory 

physiological reactions to stimuli or events are interpreted along with context to determine subjective feeling of an emotion 

theory of constructed emotion 

contemporary theory of emotions by Lisa Barrett that there are no unique expressions or physiological responses for each emotion 

emotions are constructed from many brain regions, similar to how we form perceptions 

higher-order theory of emotions 

by LeDoux and Brown 

our subjective feelings of emotions are the product of higher cognitive functions, similar to how we create conscious awareness 

facial feedback hypothesis

idea that a person’s emotions can be influenced by facial expressions- force a smile and one will feel happier

emotional intelligence EI 

measure of a person’s ability to regulate emotions and accurately perceive the emotional states of others