Emotions Handout

EMOTION What is Emotion? 

Emotion is a complex psychological state that is defined by four components: 1. Interpretation or appraisal of stimulus – your personal evaluation of the event 2. Subjective experience or feeling – your evaluation will be converted into a feeling 3. Physiological responses – your body’s automatic reaction prior to the experience 4. Overt or observable behavior – execution of voluntary actions

EMOTIONS VS FEELINGS FEELINGS

EMOTIONS

Feelings tell us “how to live.”

Emotions tell us what we “like” and “dislike” Emotions establish our initial attitude toward reality. Emotions state “The external world matters” Emotions are intense but temporary

Feelings establish our long term attitude toward reality. Feelings state “your emotions matter.” Feelings are low-key but Sustainable

What is responsible for your emotions? The Limbic System – “The Emotional Brain” a. Amygdala – stimuli detector b. Hypothalamus – regulates your response to emotions c. Hippocampus – memory storage NEUROTRANSMITTERS FOR EMOTIONS Epinephrine – fight or flight response Norepinephrine – fight or flight response Dopamine – motivation for behaviour Serotonin – prevents depression 2 MAIN CATEGORIES OF EMOTIONS 1. POSITIVE EMOTIONS (glad, lively, excited,etc.)

2. NEGATIVE EMOTIONS(anger, jealousy, fright etc.)