PSYCHOPATHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

TOPIC – EMOTION: Meaning & definition of emotion, affect, affectivity

and mood
SUBMITTED BY:
Rishika Agarwal
M.A. Applied Psychology
214/PAP/032

Emotion:
Emotion has been derived from a latin term ‘emovere’ that means ‘stirred-up state’.
Emotions not only give colour but also meaning to our lives and experiences. The crimes and
even inhuman acts are all because of emotions. Emotions play a very important role in human
behaviour and life. In fact, even moral behaviour is based on emotion to some extent (Daniel
Goleman 1995).

Emotion can be defined as the “feeling” aspect of consciousness, characterised by certain

physical arousal, a certain behaviour that reveals the feeling to the outside world, and an
inner awareness of feelings. Emotion is associated with mood, temperament, personality and
disposition and motivation. The English word ‘emotion’ is derived from the French word
émouvoir. This is based on the Latin emovere, where e- (variant of ex-) means ‘out’ and
movere means ‘move’.

Emotions can also be termed as motivators of human behaviour (Feist and Rosenberg, 2015)
and as such behaviour can be directed and activated by emotions as well (Nolen- Hoeksema
et al, 2009). Further, biological drives can be derailed by emotions. For example, need for
food, which is in a way a powerful drive, but it is possible to
override it with emotions. To discuss further, if an individual experiences the
emotion of disgust, his/ her drive for food can get derailed. And this is relevant
because the emotion of disgust can be termed as significant for the survival of
the individual.

Definitions:
Feist and Rosenberg (2015) defined emotions as “brief, acute changes in consciousness
experience and physiology that occur in response to a personally meaningful situation”.

As stated by Gerrig and Zimbardo (2006) emotions are “a complex pattern of bodily and
mental changes that includes physiological arousal, feelings, cognitive processes, visible
expressions (including face and posture) and specific behavioural reactions made in
response to a situation perceived as personally significant”.

Kosslyn and Rosenberg (2013) defined emotion as “a psychological Emotion state with
four components, a positive or negative subjective experience, bodily arousal, the activation
of specific mental processes and stored information and characteristic overt behaviour”.
Feldman (2015) defined emotion as “feelings that generally have both physiological and
cognitive elements and that influence behaviour”.

Mishra (2016) defined emotion as “a state of being moved, stirred up or behaviourally

aroused on experiencing an emotional situation and which involves external and internal
physiological changes”.

One of the key points that can be highlighted in the above definitions is that there is a state of
change. This change can be in the consciousness experience or could be in terms of
physiological arousal and even in cognitive processes. Changes can also be in form of
visible expression that is displayed on the face or in the posture of an individual. This change
is as a result of some situation that is important for the individual.

For example, a parent might display emotions happiness as his/ her child receives a gold
medal. In this the situation that the child receiving the gold medal is personally significant for
the parent and he/ she may thus experience certain changes that could be in terms of
physiological arousal, cognitive processes and feelings. There could also be changes in the
facial expression of the parent.

General characteristics of emotions:

Emotions and biological drives: Emotions mostly occur when any basic need is thwarted or
challenged or when such a need is satisfied. Emotion is said to occur as a reaction when some
basic drive is frustrated or properly satisfied.
For example, fear is a response associated with expected danger. Anger is a response when
some activity is blocked. Similarly joy is felt when the need is satisfied.

Emotions and reasoning: Emotion does not surge up in the most challenging or disturbing
situation in facing the problem by reasoning and thinking. An emotional response is always
weakened by the application of our reasoning process. Logical reasoning locks emotions and
strong emotions block logical thinking. These two phenomena seem to be opposed to each
other. It is known that emotion is a primitive form of reaction than reasoning. Emotions have
their own biological value in helping the organism to meet an emergency situation. In critical
situations immediate and vigorous action is called for and there may not be much time for
thinking and reasoning.

Emotion and overt behaviour: Each emotion has certain definite muscular and overt
behaviour. Generally, each emotion is said to have its own expressive behaviour. But many
emotions have common expressive signs. Certain strong emotions have their own
characteristic behaviour patterns.

Emotions and internal response: When we experience emotions there are certain internal
activities and disturbances in the autonomic nervous system, ductless glands and visceral
organs.

Emotions and mood: Unlike feelings emotions are very strong in intensity. So any
emotional experience even after it ceases, leaves behind a kind of ‘after feeling’ called as
mood.
For example, after we had an outburst of anger, for a much longer time we would be in an
angry mood. When we are in this mood we are liable to become angry even with a slight
provocation.

Types of emotions:
Emotions can mainly be of two types, basic emotions and self conscious emotions. These are
discussed as follows:

Basic emotions: Basic emotions are a set of emotions that commonly appear in all the human
beings. These are anger, disgust, happiness, fear, sadness and surprise. These emotions can
be stated to be innate and are shared by all human beings. And though human beings can
experience a broad range of emotions, researches on emotions have indicated that all the
emotions are an outcome of combinations of certain basic emotions (Kosslyn and Rosenberg,
2013).

Self conscious emotions: Self conscious emotions on the other hand, are emotions that
necessarily require a sense of self as well as an ability in order to reflect on one’s actions.
Further these emotions are as a result of whether the expectation in terms of social norms and
the rules are met or not.
Examples of self conscious emotions are embarrassment, guilt, pride, shame and
humiliation (Feist and Rosenberg, 2015). The self conscious emotions occur as a result of
the extent to which an individual is able to meet his/ her own expectations, the expectations
of others or social norms.

Components of emotional process:

Subjective
Experience

Responses Cognitive
to Emotion Appraisals

Components

Thought
Facial
and Action
Expressions
Tendencies
Internal
Bodily
Changes
Affect:

Definition of Affect:
Example: Angela's father passed away suddenly, and although she cried constantly, she
laughed in nervousness during the funeral. Friends and family looked at her in shock and
disbelief. Although Angela was feeling immense grief on the inside, the outward appearance
of emotion, or affect, indicated happiness, which was quite confusing and concerning to
others.
Affect is the outward expression of feelings and emotion. Affect can be a tone of voice, a
smile, a frown, a laugh, a smirk, a tear, pressed lips, a crinkled forehead, a scrunched nose,
furrowed eyebrows, or an eye gaze. Its really any facial expression or body movement that
indicates emotion. Affect is what people use in communication with each other to decipher
the way another person feels about something.
The phrase 'poker face' usually relates to someone who can mask their affect despite how
they are feeling. Poker face gets its name due to the importance of masking affect while
playing poker; you don't want players to know if you have a good or bad hand of cards.
Types of Affect:
Affect is a term that is widely used in psychology, especially when describing the way
someone with a mental disorder presents themselves during therapy sessions. When
psychologists or therapists write notes after a session, they will always document the person's
affect. There are different types of affect:
Broad Affect
This is the affect of a psychologically healthy individual. This person is able to express a
wide variety of affects to display sadness, excitement, happiness, fear, embarrassment, etc.
Restricted or Limited Affect
This denotes a limited range of affects that a person can demonstrate. When speaking of
something that they are excited about, they may not outwardly smile or become wide-eyed,
affects that usually indicate excitement.
Blunted Affect
This is when restricted or limited affect becomes more severe and when the expression of
emotion becomes even more absent.
For example, someone may react to news that a death in the family has just occurred with a
monotonous tone or an extremely apathetic appearance.
Flat Affect
This is a restriction of all expression of emotion. A person with flat affect will not express
emotion through facial expressions or body movement.
Labile Affect
This is affect that is unstable or out of proportion to the situation. Perhaps a therapist will say
something mildly funny, and the reaction of the patient is uncontrollable and boisterous
laughter for 20 seconds. Labile affect is often inappropriate to the situation.

Affect as an Indicator of Mental Illness

Affect is often noted by psychologists and therapists because it can be a major indicator of
mental illness.
For example, those with schizophrenia may sometimes have blunted or flat affect. Those with
bipolar disorder may have labile affect and get overly excited if they are experiencing an
episode of mania. Those with depression may show a restricted or limited affect.
Affectivity and Mood:
Affectivity is the degree of a person’s response or susceptibility to pleasure, pain, and other
emotional stimuli. Evaluation of affectivity is an important component of a psychological
examination; the therapist or clinician may look for evidence of such reactions as blunted
affect, inappropriate affect, loss of affect, ambivalence, depersonalization, elation,
depression, or anxiety.
It is the level of someone's reaction or vulnerability tosentimental stimulants. Assessment is
a highly imperative part of psychological evaluation- the counselor or physician might seek
proof of these responses as blunted, inappropriate, or loss altogether of affect.
An Affect is a term that encompasses a broad range of feelings that people can experience. It
embodies both emotions and moods. Affect is an umbrella term that covers both emotions
and moods. It's the basic sense of feeling , the recognition that what you're experiencing is
either pleasant or unpleasant, or whether you are feeling calm or agitated. Some observers
see affect as being the conscious experience of emotion , whereas others take an opposing
position, seeing affect as a non-conscious experience . Both stances still regard affect as an
abstract concept, something that the more complex 'emotion' builds on. As it underlies an
emotional experience, affect is what drives or forces the resulting emotion.

An Emotion is an intense feeling that is short-term and is typically directed at a source.

Emotions can often have indicative facial expressions and body language as well. Emotion is
the label you give the affect you are experiencing — for example defining the experience of
positive, stimulating arousal as excitement. Emotions don't arise without reason. They are
reactions to and are generally about something. They tend to occur either instantaneously or
very soon after this 'something' takes place. Emotions tend to be intense but short-lived
feelings which can be accompanied with facial expressions, body language, and physical
sensations.They have the potential to turn into, change or create moods.

A Mood is a state of mind that tends to be less intense than an emotion, and does not
necessarily need a contextual stimulus. Moods last longer than emotions, from hours to days.

Emotions have the ability to turn into a mood state when unattended to. If a precipitating
event is ignored or lost focus of, the emotion of said event could transform into a new mood
state. Also, moods can effect a person’s emotion and emotional intensity of new situations
that follow as well. Emotions and moods influence one another.
Moods are not as intense as emotions and can have a less specific, immediate or obvious
cause. They generally last longer than the more fleeting emotions — hours or days rather than
seconds or minutes. Moods don't have to closely follow their cause — waking up in a bad
mood for example — which can make their source sometimes hard to identify. They can
broadly be divided into 'positive' and 'negative' categories — a 'bad' or 'good' mood.

In psychology, affect is the external expression of emotion, often expressed in facial or bodily
reactions and speech. Identify the five types of affect, how they can be indicative of mental
illness, and how expressions differ between cultures.

Difference between Eotions and Mood:

Emotions and Psychological Disorders:

In case of a mood disorder, the general emotional state or mood is distorted or inconsistent
with one’s circumstances and interferes with one’s ability to function. The individual may be
extremely sad, empty or irritable (depressed), or he may have periods of depression
alternating with being excessively happy (mania).

Anxiety disorders can also affect one’s mood and often occur along with depression. Mood
disorders may increase your risk of suicide.

Some examples of mood disorders include:

• Major depressive disorder — prolonged and persistent periods of extreme

sadness

• Bipolar disorder — also called manic depression or bipolar affective disorder,

depression that includes alternating times of depression and mania

• Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) — a form of depression most often

associated with fewer hours of daylight in the far northern and southern latitudes
from late fall to early spring

• Cyclothymic disorder — a disorder that causes emotional ups and downs that
are less extreme than bipolar disorder

• Premenstrual dysphoric disorder — mood changes and irritability that occur

during the premenstrual phase of a woman's cycle and go away with the onset of
menses

• Persistent depressive disorder (dysthymia) — a long-term (chronic) form of

depression

• Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder — a disorder of chronic, severe and

persistent irritability in children that often includes frequent temper outbursts
that are inconsistent with the child's developmental age

• Depression related to medical illness — a persistent depressed mood and a

significant loss of pleasure in most or all activities that's directly related to the
physical effects of another medical condition

• Depression induced by substance use or medication ― depression symptoms

that develop during or soon after substance use or withdrawal or after exposure
to a medication