According the author emotions are what rules our daily lives. People make decisions based on their emotions. Hobbies and activities we choose are solely based on the kind of emotion they cause to us. I tend to disagree with author propositions that emotions are the tiny psychological factors that make individual behavior in a certain way or choose to do one thing inside of the other.
Humans also make decision on activities to engage in based on the future outcomes expected. It beats logic why someone would make a decision to rob a bank because it incites a cheerful mood to them than working hard and achieving prosperity.
The article points to emotions being a complex psychological state that basically involves three components such as subjective experience, behavioral or expressive response and the psychological response. This can be helpful in defining in more clear terms what emotions are. Emotions are very distinguishable from thought or knowledge or even reason.
Emotions can be classified in to 6 basic categories, the emotion of fear, anger, disgust, happiness, surprise and sadness. The research by a psychologist Paul Eckman, further suggested other forms of emotions such as embarrassment, contempt, excitement, pride, shame, amusement and satisfaction and further mentioned that most of the other forms of emotions were majorly represented in the first six basic emotions (Cherry). This basic forms of emotions are basically present in humans and need triggers to be activated. For instance, when someone loses a loved one, the emotion of sadness automatically kicks in. One experiences this emotion until a point that you accept the reality and move on with life.
Another psychologist, Robert Plutchik in the 1980s according to the article introduced another classification method of emotions known as the wheel of emotions. This particular model however was able to demonstrate how various emotions can be combined together. The psychologist suggested that there eight primary emotional dimensions as either happy or sad, fearful or anger, disgust or trust, and either anticipating or surprise. From the article the combination of various emotions brings about a more specific emotion such as a combination of happiness and anticipation creates excitement.
Understanding emotions from subjective experience
According to the article it is believed that there is a number of emotions that can be considered as universal and as such are experienced world over regardless of culture or background. The article also intimates emotions can be highly subjective. This contradicts the earlier sentiments of existence of universal emotions. The article argues that though people have “broad labels” for some types of emotions, the personally experiences of this emotions are highly unique and more multidimensional. The article argues that when an emotion like anger for instance is experienced differently in different people. The article suggest anger can range from mild annoyance to blinding rage in different people as such makes the whole issue of emotions being subjective and highly dependent on the person experiencing the emotion (Cherry). Psychologist might argue such arguments are not factual and in way lack the substantive scientific backing and I tend to agree. Describing emotions to be subjective is reducing the whole issue of emotion to the discussion of personality. Emotions are not personality and as such do not describe the reactions of different individuals and hoe they experience the different emotions. Personality on the other hand can influence people’s emotional experiences and the contrary is not factual and cannot be proven scientifically.
Understanding emotions from psychological responses
Understanding Emotions from Behavioral Response
Well, although behavioral responses may tend to be expressions of emotions, this may not always be the case as behavioral responses are at times as a result of environmental changes whereby one tries to adjust to a new environment. Many people also have behavioral responses that do not in any way express their emotions. This is noticeable in people who hide their feelings, such that you may not know when exactly they are in a certain mood like a bad mood because they will still act normal instead of portraying the body language of a sad look when things are tough. I also tend to differ with the author about the cultural rules being of influence to our expression and interpretation of emotions. Different societies have different cultural values and rules, hence culture rules that are practiced by one society cannot be used to conclude that a certain behavioral response expresses the emotion of an individual unless if it is based on a specific community.
Understanding Emotions Vs. Moods
As the author states, psychologists distinguish the two terms ‘moods’ and ‘emotions’ which are often used interchangeably by people. The difference is that, emotions are quite intense and short-lived while emotions have a definite cause. For example, you may disagree with a friend over an issue like politics and you end up feeling angry after the disagreement, but that feeling will be for a short period of time. This is an emotion. On the other hand, moods are milder than emotions but last longer. The author also demonstrates that in most cases, it can be hard to determine the specific reason for having moods. For example, one may feel gloomy for quite some time without any genuine reason (Cherry).
I tend to agree with the author on the part, that emotions are intense and short-lived while moods are milder and last longer. But I disagree on the point that one may at times find it difficult to understand the reason for a certain mood. I believe that there is always a reason behind any mood be it a jovial mood or a gloomy mood.
Conclusion
Emotions are complex and as such more studies need to be conducted on the effects emotions and how different people react to emotions. Emotions can at times motivate us to do particular things but that as it may be does not mean emotions guide human choices.
Work Cited
Cherry, Kendra. "The Three Key Elements Of Emotion". About.com Health. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
