The Emotional Self

Understanding The Self – Week 14

 Intended Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the students are expected to:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the concept of
emotions and their role in shaping the emotional self,
encompassing emotional awareness, expression, and
regulation; and,
• Analyze the multifaceted nature of emotions,
considering their cognitive, physiological, and
behavioral components, and understand how emotions
contribute to self-identity.
EMOTIONS AND
FEELINGS
 Definition: What is Emotion?
• The term emotion originated from the French word
emouvoir meaning “to shake, to stir.”
• It is “a strong mental or instinctive feeling such as love or
fear” involving many bodily processes, and mental states
(Oxford English Dictionary, 1996).
• It is typically brief, intense, and involve physiological changes,
such as changes in heart rate, facial expressions, and
hormonal secretion.
 Basic Emotions
According to Daniel Goleman, there are eight basic families of
emotions:
Fear (Safety) anxiety, apprehension, nervousness, concern,
consternation, misgiving, wariness, qualm, edginess,
dread, fright, terror and in the extreme cases phobia
and panic
Anger (Justice) fury, outrage, resentment, wrath, exasperation,
indignation, vexation, acrimony, animosity, annoyance,
irritability, hostility, and perhaps these are manifest in
the extreme as hatred and violence
 Basic Emotions
Sadness (Loss) grief, sorrow, cheerlessness, gloom, melancholy, self-
pity, loneliness, dejection, despair, and depression in
the extreme case
Enjoyment (Gain) happiness, joy, relief, contentment, bliss, delight,
amusement, pride, sensual pleasure, thrill, rapture,
gratification, satisfaction, euphoria, whimsy, ecstasy, and
at the far edge, mania
Love (Attraction) acceptance, friendliness, trust, kindness, affinity,
devotion, adoration, infatuation, and agape
 Basic Emotions
Disgust (Repulsion) contempt, distain, scorn, abhorrence, aversion, distaste,
and revulsion
Surprise (Attention) shock, astonishment, amazement, and wonder

Shame (Self-control) guilt, embarrassment, chagrin, remorse, humiliation,

regret, mortification, and contrition
 Components of Emotions
• Physiological arousal – Involvement of the brain, nervous
system, and secretion of hormone
• Subjective feelings – Subjective awareness of interpreting
one’s emotional state
• Cognitive processes – Involvement of memories,
perceptions, expectations, and interpretations
• Behavioral reactions – Include behavioral reactions, both
expressive and instrumental
 Characteristics of Emotions
EMOTIONS ARE CLOSELY RELATED TO A PERSON’S
BIOLOGICAL NEEDS.
• Emotions occurred when an individual’s basic needs are
either hindered or satisfied.
• Emotions are helpful to individuals in terms of the
satisfaction of basic needs.
 Characteristics of Emotions
EMOTIONS AND LOGICAL THINKING HAVE AN INVERSE
RELATIONSHIP.
• As emotional intensity increases, the capacity for logical
thinking decreases, and vice versa.
• Heightened emotional states may cloud one's judgment and
impede the application of logical reasoning.
 Characteristics of Emotions
EMOTIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH CERTAIN BEHAVIORAL
CHARACTERISTICS.
• Emotions often manifest in overt behaviors that serve as
expressive indicators of the internal emotional states.
• For example, anger is often linked to aggressive behaviors,
including attacking or confrontational actions.
 Characteristics of Emotions
EMOTIONS TRIGGER A SERIES OF INTERNAL ACTIVITIES
INVOLVING THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, DUCTLESS
GLANDS, AND VISCERAL ORGANS.
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is important in the internal
response to emotions. It consists of the sympathetic and
parasympathetic branches, working in tandem to regulate
involuntary bodily functions.
• Ductless glands, specifically the endocrine system, release
hormones that influence various physiological functions.
• Visceral organs, including the heart, lungs, and digestive system,
also undergo changes during emotional experiences.
 Characteristics of Emotions
EMOTIONS LEAVE AN AFTER FEELING CALLED ‘MOOD’.
• Emotions, characterized by their strong intensity and
relatively short duration, serve as immediate responses to
specific stimuli or situations. However, the aftermath of
intense emotional experiences often leaves a lasting
influence on an individual’s mood.
 Physiological Changes in Emotions
• Facial expressions – Various muscles of the face including
the eye, the lips, the nose and the forehead undergo
changes by way of twisting and taking different poses.
• Muscular adjustment – Sometimes the entire muscular
system of the body undergoes contraction and adjustments.
• Gestures and movement of the hands
• Change in voice – Voice gets affected by emotions,
particularly in terms of volume and pitch.
 Definition: What is Feelings?
• Compared to emotions, feelings are more enduring and
significant experiences that arise from the cognitive
interpretation and subjective evaluation of emotions.
• These are influenced by personal experiences, cultural
norms, and individual differences.
 Characteristics of Feelings
• Pleasantness-unpleasantness dimension – positive
or negative feeling
• Excitement-numbness dimension – intensity of the
feeling
• Tension-relaxation dimension – how the body gets
active or energized by a feeling
 Distinction between Emotions and Feelings
EMOTIONS FEELINGS
• Intense but temporary • Low-key but sustainable
• Establish people’s initial attitude • Establish long-term attitude
toward reality toward reality
• Alert people to immediate • Alert people to anticipated
dangers and prepare them for dangers and prepare them for
action action
• Ensure immediate survival of the • Ensure long-term survival of the
self self
 MAJOR THEORIES
RELATED TO EMOTIONS
 James-Lange Theory of Emotion
• This theory was proposed by
William James and Carl Lange.
• Emotions do not begin with the
conscious experience but are
caused by bodily sensations.

William James Carl Lange

Example: James-Lange Theory of Emotion
 Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
• This theory was proposed by
Walter B. Cannon and Philip Bard.
• It is also known as the thalamic
theory of emotion related to the
thalamus.
• Emotions occur when the
thalamus sends a message to the
brain in response to a stimulus,
Walter B. Cannon Philip Bard resulting in a physiological
reaction.
 Example: Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion

AUTONOMIC AROUSAL

SUBCORTICAL ACTIVITY IN
ELICITING STIMULUS THE THALAMUS

CONSCIOUS EMOTION
(FEAR)
 Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
• This theory was developed by Stanley
Schachter and Jerome Singer in the
1960s.
• There are two key components of
emotions: physiological arousal and
cognitive interpretation.
• Physiological arousal is the body’s
immediate response to a stimulus,
while cognitive interpretation involves
Stanley Schachter Jerome Singer processing of thoughts and
perceptions.
Example: Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
NEUROSCIENCE OF
EMOTIONS
 The Limbic System
• It is located lateral to the thalamus,
underneath the cerebral cortex, and
above the brainstem.
• It is referred to as the “emotion center”
of the brain.
• It is responsible for the regulation of
emotions and various other cognitive
functions.
 Amygdala
• It is a central component of the limbic
system and is primarily associated with
the processing of emotions, particularly
fear and pleasure.
• It plays an important role in the
formation and storage of emotional
memories and the assessment of the
emotional significance of stimuli.
 Hippocampus
• It is primarily linked to memory
formation.
• It contributes to emotional regulation
by interacting with the amygdala.
• It helps create and consolidate explicit
memories, including those associated
with emotional experiences.
 Thalamus
• It relays sensory information, including
emotional stimuli, to the different parts
of the brain to facilitate the rapid
processing of emotionally relevant
information.
 Hypothalamus
• It is a key regulator of the autonomic
nervous system and the endocrine
system.
• It orchestrates physiological responses
associated with emotions, such as
changes in heart rate, body
temperature, and the release of
hormones.
 Cingulate Cortex
• It is involved in emotional processing,
conflict resolution, and the regulation of
emotional responses.
• It has connections with the amygdala
and contributes to emotional learning.
 Insular Cortex
• It is associated in the processing and
regulation of emotions.
• It contributes to the subjective experience
of emotions, including awareness of one's
emotional state and the interpretation of
emotional cues from the environment.
• It is important for interoceptive awareness,
allowing individuals to perceive and
interpret signals from their own bodies,
such as heartbeat, respiration, and
gastrointestinal sensations.
 Fornix
• It is a fiber bundle that connects the
hippocampus to other limbic
structures.
• It facilitates communication within the
limbic system, supporting the
integration of emotional and cognitive
processes.
 EMOTIONAL
INTELLIGENCE
“If your emotional abilities aren’t in hand, if you
don’t have self-awareness, if you are not able to
manage your distressing emotions, if you can’t have
empathy and have effective relationships, then no
matter how smart you are, you are not going to get
very far.”
- Daniel Goleman
 Emotional Hijacking
It is a phenomenon where an
intense emotional reaction, often
triggered by a specific event or
stimuli, temporarily overwhelms and
overrides rational thought and
decision-making processes.
 Emotional Intelligence
• It refers to the ability to identify, assess, and
manage one’s own emotions, as well as the
emotions of other people.
• People who possess high degree of
emotional intelligence do not only have a
deep understanding of their own emotions
but also possess the ability to perceive and
Daniel Goleman navigate the emotions of those around them.
EMOTIONAL
REGULATION
“Emotional regulation refers to the process by which
individuals influence which emotions they have, when
they have them, and how they experience and express
their feelings. Emotional regulation can be automatic or
controlled, conscious or unconscious, and may have
effects at one or more points in the emotion producing
process.”
- Gross, 1998 (p. 275)
 Three Components of Emotional Regulation
1. Initiating actions triggered by emotions.
2. Inhibiting actions triggered by emotions.
3. Modulating responses triggered by emotions.
 Two Forms of Emotional Regulation
According to Gross (1987), emotional regulation may take
two forms:
• Cognitive reappraisal – evaluation of the situation
prior to making personal, subjective valuations about it
• Suppression – denial and masking of facial expressions
to hide one’s current emotional state
 Research-Based Emotional Regulation Strategies
• Reappraisal – changing one's perspective on an event to
reduce the emotional intensity associated with it
• Self-soothing – using comforting and calming techniques
to regulate emotions, particularly during times of distress
or heightened arousal
• Attentional control – directing and maintaining one's
focus on specific aspects of a situation while deliberately
diverting attention from others
 Other Emotional Regulation Strategies
• Learning to identify and label emotions.
• Learning to understand the functions these emotions serve.
• Learning to reduce painful, negative emotions and to let
go of emotional suffering.
• Learning to increase positive emotions.
Plutchik’s Wheel of Emotions
• It was developed by psychologist
Robert Plutchik.
• It was designed to help people
identify and understand their
emotional experience better at
any given time, under any
circumstance.
 REFERENCES
• Introduction to Emotion, Basic Emotions, and Concept of Emotions.
https://egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/23834/1/Unit-1.pdf
• Voris, J. (2009, Jul. 3). Difference between Emotions and Feelings. https://www.authentic-
systems.com/featured -articles/difference-between-emotions-and-feelings/
• Nickerson, C. (n.d.). James-Lange Theory Of Emotion: Definition And Examples.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/what-is-the-james-lange-theory-of-emotion.html
• What is the Cannon-Bard Theory About? https://psychcentral.com/health/cannon-bard-
theory-of-emotions
• Mcleod, S. (n.d.). Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory Of Emotion.
https://www.simplypsychology.org/schachter-singer-theory.html
• Introduction to Neuroscience.
https://openbooks.lib.msu.edu/introneuroscience1/chapter/emotions-
overview/#:~:text=Emotions%20are%20complex%20neurophysiological%20states,persis
t%20over%20years%20(vengefulness).
 REFERENCES
• Mindfulness – Emotional Hijacking. https://www.deancare.com/getmedia/c66910ff-52eb-
4a8c-8faf-018ec86f53a8/Dean-Wellness-Emotional-hijacking.pdf
• Serrat, O. (2017). Understanding and Developing Emotional Intelligence. Doi:
10.1007/978-981-10-0983-9_37
• Improving Emotional Intelligence (EQ). https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-
health/emotional-intelligence-eq.htm
• Readingraphics (n.d.). Book Summary – Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More
Than IQ. https://readingraphics.com/book-summary-emotional-intelligence-daniel-goleman/
• Chowdhury, M.R. (2019, Aug. 13). Emotional Regulation: 6 Key Skills to Regulate
Emotions. https://positivepsychology.com/emotion-regulation/
• Emotion Regulation Skills.
https://psychiatry.ucsf.edu/sites/psych.ucsf.edu/files/EMOTION%20REGULATION%20SKILL
S%20MANUAL.pdf
• How to Use the Emotion Wheel to Get to Know Yourself.
https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotion-wheel