What_Is_an_Emotion_

Emotion is defined as “brief, rapid responses involving physiological, experiential and behavioural activities that help humans respond to survival related problems and opportunities” (Kazdin, 2004). While it is easily enough defined, the question still lingers; what makes an emotion' Is it physical factors (responses from the autonomic nervous and limbic systems) or psychosocial factors (responses based on cognition and social conditioning) that most influence, and help humans understand, this complex concept' In order to answer such questions, theorists have devised three main theories to explain in what order cognition, behaviour and physiological arousal are experienced (Heffner, 2001) and thus which factor is more relevant in terms of experiencing emotion. It is important to note that the importance of such factors differs depending on which emotion is being studied. Herein, these three main theories of emotion will be evaluated with respect to the emotions fear and anger and the relevant psychosocial and physical factors will be explored based on each. In his book; What Is An Emotion' William James (1884) stated that each emotion is defined by specific, physiological patterns. Combining his theories with those of Carl Lange, the ‘James-Lange’ theory of emotion soon followed (Kazdin, 2004). The ‘James-Lange’ theory argues that emotion is only experienced after physiological changes are percepted and behaviour has begun. (Heffner, 2001). This has been proven to be true in some circumstances, particularly in terms of the ‘fear’ response. Studies have been done on people with phobias’, where brain activity monitored and, in situations of perceived immediate danger, sensory information has been noted to skip the cortex of the brain and go directly to the amygdala, thus creating an autonomic response (adrenalin release, sweaty palms, increased heart rate, etc.) before time is allowed for cognition (Primal Instincts- Fear, 2004). Often phobia’s are classified as irrational, meaning that the fear stimulus does not present an immediate danger; this in itself shows that emotion fear can be present in a situation that has not involved social conditioning, thus showing that in the case of fear; physical factors are more important. This theory has received criticisms where studies have not been able to differentiate the patterns of the autonomic nervous system for certain sets of emotions and when subjects, injected with adrenaline, have not felt induced states of emotion (Coon, 2001). The studies associated with proving this theory, however, have shown that different emotions allow for different responses, and in terms of extreme fear; it is the physical response that is most important in creating emotion. Created as a direct, critical response to the ‘James-Lange’ theory of emotion, the ‘Cannon-Bard’ theory argues that arousal and emotion occur at the same time (Kazdin, 2004). Much of the studies done to prove this were based on observations and case studies of people with damage to the thalamus, which led to criticisms immediately regarding the studies’ ability to generalize their results (Levinson, 1999) also in terms of the validity of these results, the fact that observation is based on abnormal behaviour leaves questions surrounding the relevance to ‘normal’ behaviour.. Many of the studies done were focused on aggression, particularly in animals, and the results did indicate that physical arousal was again, more important than the psychosocial aspect. However, it is important to note that treatment of anger management issues is most affective with cognitive behaviour therapy (Primal Instincts- Anger, 2004). The third main theory of emotion is the ‘Two Factor’ theory. This claimed that arousal is cognitively interpreted based on outside events (Heffner, 2001). The studies based on this theory focus on cognitive attribution of physical arousal to the situation (Heffner, 2001), showing an approached based on the idea that psychosocial factors are most important in determining emotion. The Schachter and Singer study involved a group of people who were injected with adrenalin. These people were then either informed, misinformed or not informed at all about the affects that the injection was going to have on them. The subjects were then put in a room with a man set up to provoke them in either an aggressive manner or in a positive manner, the subjects response was then recorded. Results showed clearly that those who were informed about the affects of the injection did not respond in the same manner as the others, this shows that they were able to cognitively attribute their arousal to the adrenalin and not to the provocative man (Carlson, 1987). This study shows clear results that, especially in terms of anger, are able to be generalized, showing that anger is controlled, in the most part by psychosocial factors.