Chapter 21 - The Emotions: An Integrative Approach

Abstract

The emotions play a central role in most theories of personality. Yet, personality psychologists have shown a remarkable tolerance for ambiguity with regard to the nature of emotions. More often than not, emotional concepts are used in a global, undifferentiated fashion or else in a manner unique to each theory. There are six kinds of variables that have played important roles in psychological theories of emotion—(1) cognitive appraisals, (2) physiological change, (3) expressive reactions, (4) instrumental acts, (5) verbal behavior, and (6) feelings. The appraisal is itself a kind of response, an imposition of meaning on events. Psychological phenomena may become associated with physiological responses on the basis of shared symbolic meaning, rather than on any empirically demonstrated functional relationship. Expressive reactions, especially facial expressions, have played a crucial role in the study of emotion. The term facial expressions mean joy, surprise, sadness, anger etc. Verbal behavior can be described as what is said and the way it is said. The terms “feeling” and “emotion” are often used interchangeably. This has led some theorists to assume that emotions are really feelings or at least that feelings are essential features of emotions.