Psychology of emotion: Summary

Psychology of emotion: Summary
Emotions are powerful forces that exert a great influence on the behavior of man and animals. The term emotion as a psychological concept is found in areas of study as diverse as general psychology, clinical psychology, psychobiology, ethology or psychosomatic medicine. There is not yet a conceptual unity. An integrating theory is lacking. In this Transkerja.com article we are going to offer you a summary of the psychology of emotion so that you can better know its nature.

Nature of emotion

The emotion is difficult to study in the laboratory in all its amplitude for several reasons. On the one hand there are ethical considerations. On the other hand, research techniques can interfere with the emotion under study. On the other hand, emotions seem to be more linked to clinical and applied aspects of psychology than to scientific study in the laboratory.

Scientific psychology, especially with a behavioral approach, has serious difficulties in admitting introspective and mentalistic reports about feelings and emotions.

The word emotion comes from the Latin word movere (move out). It was used to refer to agitation or physical disturbance. Then he went on to indicate a social or political disturbance. Finally, this term, as indicated by Young (1961), was used to refer to any agitated and vehement mental state of people.

Emotion is not something exclusive of the human being. Darwin studied the expressive behavior of animals related to the postures of their bodies. He used an observational methodology. According to Darwin, the expression of emotions through bodily changes and specific movements has an adaptive function in the life of the animal, since it serves as preparation for action and for the conservation of animal life.

He also tried the theme of the innate and the acquired in emotion. Many emotions have an innate character. He also admitted that certain emotions or gestures are learned.