ABSTRACT
Chapter summary
Emotional states manifest themselves in facial expressions, patterns of activation in the body and the brain, subjective feeling states, and forms of behaviour.
Women experience some (but not) all emotions more intensely than men; they tend to be more sensitive than men to other people’s emotional states.
All emotional states (even negative ones) typically fulfil useful functions. For example, anxiety focuses attention on potential threats and reduces risk-taking.
Ekman claimed that facial expressions convey six basic emotions. However, his research was very artificial and limited. More recent research has identified 28 different emotions in facial expressions and 24 emotions in vocal bursts.
Self-report data indicate the importance of the distinction between positive and negative affect. More detailed analysis of self-report data reveals the existence of at least 27 different emotions.
There are no one-to-one relationships between specific emotions and specific brain areas. However, major emotions are associated with somewhat distinct patterns of activation of brain networks.
The James–Lange theory emphasises that our emotional experiences reflect patterns of bodily activity. However, it de-emphasises the role of cognitive processes in influencing which emotion we experience.
According to appraisal theory, our interpretations of situations determine which emotions we experience. Such interpretations can occur rapidly in the absence of conscious awareness as well as more slowly based on conscious processes.
We can account for our emotional experiences by combining the insights of the James–Lange and appraisal theories.
There are numerous emotion-regulation strategies. Those focusing on producing cognitive change (e.g., reappraisal) are typically most effective.
Therapy involving teaching effective emotion-regulation strategies has proved successful in treating anxiety and depression.
