1. What is an emotion?

Emotion is your state of mind as it interacts with biochemical and environmental

factors.
In psychology, emotion is often defined as a complex state of feeling that results
in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.

2. What are the three components of an emotion?
a. Cognitive Component
Labeling emotion anger, happy, sad, etc.
Each persons perceptions are unique and what we perceive in our environment
determines how we feel. Thinking about being in love with someone causes us
to want to approach and be with them. Likewise, if something or someone
prevents this, then strong feelings can result.

b. Physiological Component an
Physical Arousal an arousal created by SNS
- In this example, these strong feelings give rise to a number of physiological
responses such as an increase in heart rate , respiration, blood glucose and
hormone changes. Thesephysiological responses are preparing us to exert
considerable energy in dealing with our perceived threat or barrier.

c. Behavioral Component
The behavior that results may be facial expressions (a smile or grimace,
for example), verbal behavior, or a more overt manner of physical
expression.

Emotional Expression - Facial expression and body movement

3. How does emotion influence ones behaviour?
In a nutshell, the two theories are as follows. The THE STANDARD THEORY:
EMOTION DIRECTLY CAUSES BEHAVIOR holds that emotion directly causes
behavior. Actions can be explained by citing the emotional state that gave rise to
them: someone did something because he was angry or because she was
happy or because he was afraid or because she was sad. The evolved
purpose and function of emotions was to cause people to act in particular ways.
The DIRECT CAUSATION THEORY, in contrast, holds that conscious emotion
tends to come after behavior and operates as a kind of inner feedback system
that prompts the person to reflect on the act and its consequences, and possibly
learn lessons that could be useful on future occasions. People may choose their
actions based on the emotional outcomes they anticipate. The influence of
emotion on behavior is thus indirect.

4. What are the main principles of emotion?

5. What part of the brain processes the emotional expression of an individual?

It has been said that there are three features of the brains contol over your
emotions. The first feature is focused on your amygdala, the almond-shaped
neural structure in your brain that associates emotional expression and stimulus
in the environment to an action that needs to be done.
The second feature is your brains control over the emotional and non-emotional
facial expressions. The pyramidal motor system takes control of voluntary facial
movements while the extra-pyramidal motor system controls emotion associated
with facial expressions.
The last role of your brain in your emotion is seen in the cerebral cortex itself.
Your brains two cerebral hemispheres contribute differently to the expression of
your emotions. But generally, any action associated with your emotion, including
the experiencing of emotion itself depends much on the right hemisphere more
than the left of your cerebral cortex.
Studies have shown that your right hemisphere is more involved than your left in
your emotions. Studies have shown that the right hemisphere is dominant for the
perception of your emotions; from both facial expressions and prosody
(emotional tone of voice).
Moreover, facial expressions tend to develop sooner and to be of greater
magnitude on the left side of the face, which is controlled by the right hemisphere
of the brain. Apart from your cerebral hemispheres, studies also reveal individual
differences in the neural mechanism of emotions.
The following...

6. How does the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) affect an emotion?

7. What are the theories that can explain the whys of emotion?

a. James Lange Theory the belief that emotions occur after people become
aware of their physiological responses triggering stimuli. It states that ...
b. Canon-Bard Theory the belief that emotional and physiological reactions to
triggering stimuli occur almost simultaneously. It proposes that...
c. Shachter-Singer Theory the theory that emotions involve two factors: a
state of general arousal and a cognitive interpretation (or labelling) of the
causes of the arousal. It argues that...
d. Lazarus Theory emphasis on the cognitive appraisal and interpretation of
the stimulus taht causes emotional reaction. It argues that...
e. Facial Feedback Theory provides feedback to the brain about the emotion.
It states that...
8. What is the importance of emotional intelligence?
Emotional intelligence is the ability of an individual to motivate oneself and
become resilient in times of conflicts and frustrations; to control impulse and
delay gratifications; to manage ones moods; and to be able to emphasize with
other people.

1. How do psychologists describe personality?

2. How do psychodynamic theories explain personality?