The Complex Psychophysiological Components of Emotional Experience - Research Paper Example

?Emotion Emotion is one of the core psychological and physiological experiences humans deal with on a daily basis. Even as human emotional experienceis one of the basic physiological components of existence, most individuals know little to nothing about the exact scientific components of emotion. Indeed, the complex psychophysiological components of emotional experience are so vast that scientific knowledge is challenged to fully articulate this process. Still, a number of psychological and biological theories have predominated the scientific landscape. This essay examines emotional within the context of these psychological and biological theories, presenting a broad overview of contemporary understandings of the structure and nature of emotion. When examining emotion within the biological and psychological context it’s clear that there is a diverse array of understandings on what constitutes this psychophysiological component. It is perhaps most appropriate to start with the linguistic understanding of emotion; in these regards, “English word emotion is derived from the French word emouvoir. This is based on the Latin emovere, where e- (variant of ex-) means "out" and movere means "move." The related term "motivation" is also derived from the word movere” (Myer, p. 121). In terms of theoretical understandings of the emergence of emotions, there are two major schools of thought. In these regards, there is the James-Lange theory. This theory contends that emotions emerge because of bodily changes and development processes that are subsequently are articulated in emotional form. The converse perspective on this is the functionalist notion. The functionalist perspective on the emergence of emotions is that they function to keep the individual safe from potential harm; this understanding is akin to the central nervous system which functions to ensure the individual does not experience physical harm. Another prominent aspect of emotions is the system of classification. Most humans are familiar with emotional categorizations, such as happiness, sadness, etc. Further overarching emotional dichotomies involve such divisions as mood and feeling. Furthermore, there are systems of emotions that causal humans are less familiar with. In these regards, it’s understood that there are basic and complex emotional forms. Within this understanding basic emotions emerge and are later compounded by other emotions, resulting in the complex emotional process. This element of emotional understanding is highly rooted in psychological articulations of emotional experience. Other psychological interpretations and dichotomies of emotions are linked to what as been termed the circumplex model. This is an understanding of emotions based on both basic and complex distinctions, as well as articulations of intensity. This model of emotions is “designed around frequent charts and analytical devices that seek to articulate the various types and intensities of emotional experience” (Myers, p. 134). For example, this categorization of emotional experience would divide between an emotion like surprise, which is a high charged but short-term emotion, and disgust, which may be in less intensity, but longer lasting. While such articulations of emotion are largely psychological in nature, there also exists hard science and biology that support these divisions of emotion based on intensity. In these regards, it’s noted that MRI’s have been attached to individual’s brain scans and they emotions were created. The results indicated clear instances where varying intensities and types of emotional experience developed based on different brain scans. As noted earlier, there are two main theories on the emergence of emotions. The James-Lange theory is today recognized as one of the most prominent emotional theories. This theory, as proposed by psychologist and philosopher William James and psychologist Carl Lange has inspired a great amount of emotional theories. That underlining notion within this theoretical construct is that the human developmental context is linked to emotions. This is a biological understanding of emotions as derived from these physiological changes. It is also an understanding of emotions that links them to almost irrational features of human development. It’s noted that, The James–Lange theory has remained influential. Its main contribution is the emphasis it places on the embodiment of emotions, especially the argument that changes in the bodily concomitants of emotions can alter their experienced intensity. Most contemporary neuroscientists would endorse a modified James–Lange view in which bodily feedback modulates the experience of emotion (Dagleish, p. 583). As this theorist indicates, there is substantial scientific research that supports the understanding that emotions and development are inextricably linked. Major contrasting theories to the James-Lange theory of emotions are theories entirely rooted in cognitive functioning. As noted earlier some of these are derived from functionalist modes of understanding that consider emotions are emergent as a sort of psychological nervous system that contributes to functions to save humans from harm. Still, other cognitive theories of human emotions argue that emotions are a by-product of human cognitive thought. One such model of understanding presents the emotion as emanating from a thought. For instance, an individual would think that they are hungry and then subsequent emotions, such as suspense and desire, would emerge that contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the desire for food. This mode of understanding is contrasted from the James-Lange model on the primary notion of functionality and rationality. While emotions in the James-Lange model follow the logic of human development, their emergence in social relations does not follow a rational course of action. Conversely, the cognitive and functionalist models of emotional understanding contend that emotions serve a vital purpose in enriching human comprehension of their surroundings and motivation. Ultimately, one might consider such popular connotations of women as emotional as perhaps linked to gender differences in the extent that either the James-Lange, or cognitive models controls emotions. In conclusion, this essay has provided a broad psychophysiological investigation in the nature of emotions. In this context of understanding it has demonstrated that there are a variety of dichotomies of emotions. It has also revealed there are two predominant scientific explanations for emotions: the James-Lange theory, and cognitivist/functional theories. The main difference is that the first theory links emotions to human development, while the second theory links emotions to functional processes, such as human motivation or thought. References Dalgleish, T. The emotional brain. Nature: Perspectives, 5, 582–89. 2004. Myers, D. Psychology: Seventh Edition, New York, NY: Worth Publishers, 2004. Read More