EMOTIONS
EMOTIONS
EMOTIONS
- because they involve the brain’s processing, interpretation, and management of feelings, rather
than being simple, momentary emotional reactions.
o Why do I feel this? – explanation why
o How did your body react? If happy then mu smile
3 Elements of Emotion
- help us understand and protect ourselves, as well as connect with others, making emotions vital
to survival, social interaction, and personal growth.
1. Subjective Experience
- This refers to the personal feelings and thoughts that come with emotional experiences,
which are unique to each individual.
- emotions are not universal and can vary widely between individuals and situations.
- The icons depict milestones like graduation, marriage, parenting, and social interactions,
symbolizing moments that might elicit various emotional responses.
2. Physiological Response:
- Emotions trigger physiological changes in the body, such as an increased heart rate, pupil
dilation, or changes in muscle tension.
- These responses are involuntary and are driven by the autonomic nervous system.
- The images illustrate bodily reactions like a pounding heart, sweating, and a stiff posture,
indicating the physical side of emotions.
3. Behavioral Response
- This component encompasses how we express emotions through actions, like facial
expressions, body language, or vocal tone.
- communicates our emotional state to others, fostering social connection and support.
- influence relationships by setting social boundaries or building trust, as people tend to
respond to each other's emotional cues.
- The image shows a spectrum of facial expressions ranging from sad to happy, with a person
meditating, possibly indicating an effort to manage or express emotions calmly.
EMOTIONS 101
o Emotions are not constant; they are temporary states that arise and fade over time.
Emotions can change quickly in response to different situations or even without a clear
cause, influenced by factors such as thoughts, memories, or physical sensations.
o For example, you may feel happy when receiving good news, but that joy might dissipate
once you encounter something frustrating. This transient nature of emotions allows
people to experience a wide range of feelings throughout the day.
o The intensity of emotions varies greatly depending on the situation, personality, and
context.
o Sometimes, emotions are subtle, like a slight feeling of contentment, while at other
times, they can be overwhelming, such as extreme anger or excitement.
o The intensity can be influenced by factors such as stress levels, personal triggers, and
emotional resilience.
o Understanding this range helps people recognize that it’s normal to experience emotions
with different intensities and can assist in managing their responses accordingly.
• There are no good or bad emotions, but there are good and bad ways of expressing (or acting
on) emotions.
o All emotions serve a purpose and are valid; they are natural responses to life events that
help us navigate the world and understand our needs.
o For instance, anger can indicate when something feels unjust, and sadness can signal a
need for comfort or reflection.
o However, it’s how emotions are expressed that matters—yelling or aggressive behavior
in anger, for example, can be harmful, while calmly communicating feelings can lead to
positive outcomes. Learning constructive ways to handle emotions is essential for
maintaining healthy relationships and well-being.
1. Joy
- It is often defined as a pleasant emotional state that is characterized by feelings of
contentment, joy, gratification, satisfaction, and well-being.
o This positive emotion can arise from various experiences, such as personal
achievements, connecting with loved ones, or simply appreciating small, beautiful
moments in life.
- This type of emotion is sometimes expressed through: facial expressions such as smiling,
body language such as a relaxed stance and an upbeat, pleasant tone of voice.
o can also make people more open and sociable, enhancing their connection to others
and making them feel more positive about life.
2. Sadness
- It is another type of emotion often defined as a transient emotional state characterized by
feelings of disappointment, grief, hopelessness, disinterest, and dampened mood.
o It may occur due to loss, setbacks, or unmet expectations. Although it’s often
uncomfortable, sadness is a natural part of life that can encourage reflection and
emotional healing.
- This can be expressed in a number of ways including dampened mood, quietness, lethargy,
withdrawal from others and crying.
o During sadness, people may feel less energetic and less motivated, prompting them
to seek comfort or solitude.
3. FEAR
- It is a powerful emotion that can also play an important role in survival.
- When you face some sort of danger and experience fear, you go through what is known as
the fight or flight response.
o The "fight or flight" response is the body's natural reaction to perceived danger,
preparing us either to confront the threat (fight) or escape it (flight).
▪ an automatic, nearly instantaneous reaction that happens the moment your
body senses danger.
o When we experience fear, our brain, particularly the amygdala, recognizes the threat
and signals the hypothalamus to activate the sympathetic nervous system.
o This triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones that increase
heart rate, breathing rate, and blood flow to muscles, preparing the body for quick
action.
- Your muscles become tense, your heart rate and respiration increase, and your mind
becomes more alert, preparing your body to either run from danger or stand and fight.
o Physical signs of fear might include wide eyes, a fast pulse, or even a freezing
response.
4. Disgust
- an emotion characterized by a strong feeling of aversion or revulsion toward something
perceived as offensive, unpleasant, or contaminating.
- triggers a physical reaction, like a wrinkling of the nose, a grimace, or even nausea.
- arises in response to sensory experiences, such as foul smells, tastes, or sights, as well as
behaviors or ideas that violate one's personal, moral, or cultural standards.
5. ANGER
- It can be a particularly powerful emotion characterized by feelings of hostility, agitation,
frustration, and antagonism towards others.
o It can arise from feelings of injustice, betrayal, or blocked goals. While anger can be
disruptive, it can also be a motivator to address problems or defend oneself.
- Like fear, anger can play a part in your body's fight or flight response.
- When a threat generates feelings of anger, you may be inclined to fend off the danger and
protect yourself.
6. SURPRISE
- It is usually quite brief and is characterized by a physiological startle response following
something unexpected.
- This type of emotion can be positive, negative, or neutral.
- An unpleasant surprise, for example, might involve someone jumping out from
behind a tree and scaring you as you walk to your car at night.
- An example of a pleasant surprise would be arriving home to find that your closest
friends have gathered to celebrate your birthday.