Emotions

Are emotions universal?
Are there any facial expressions or gestures used to signify emotion that are specific to one culture and are not universal? Describe them.

An emotion is affective state, subjective reaction to the environment, accompanied by organizational changes (physiological and endocrine) innate origin, influenced by experience and has the adaptive function.

Emotions areuniversal phenomena; however, they are affected by culture. While some emotions are universal and are experienced in similar ways as a reaction to similar events across all cultures, other emotions show considerable cultural differences in their antecedent events, the way they are experienced, the reactions they provoke and the way they are perceived by the surrounding society.

Emotions areuniversal phenomena; however, they are affected by culture. While some emotions are universal and are experienced in similar ways across all cultures, other emotions show considerable cultural differences in their antecedent events, the way they are experienced, and the way they are perceived by the surrounding society.

It was investigated whether basic emotions are influenced by the environment or aregenetically hardwired into all human beings.
Findings suggest basic emotions such as amusement, anger, fear and sadness are shared by all humans.

Also many scientiest wanted to find the sounds associated with emotions such as happiness, anger, fear, sadness, disgust and surprise are shared among different cultures. And the sound of the laugther is well recognized by all cultures. Listenersfrom both cultures agreed that laughter signified amusement.

The researchers believe this may be due to the function of positive emotions, which facilitate social cohesion between group members. Such bonding behavior may be restricted to in-group members with whom social connections are built and maintained.

Like so many other aspects of our psychological makeup, emotions are comprised ofseveral components: cognitive, physiological, and behavioral.

A) Cognitive Level (this is the name associated with the emotion)

Emotions involve some type of personal evaluations that normally ranges from pleasant-unpleasant.

B) Physiological Level

Emotions are accompanied by physiological arousal, usually at an autonomic level (involuntary/automatic). The systems involved with thisactivity are:

- Central Nervous System (CNS): limbic system and cortex

- Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): somatic and autonomic, sympathetic and parasympathetic



C) Behavioral Level: Nonverbal Expression

Very often organisms communicate without words. They may rely on smiling, frowning, clenching their fists, turning their backs, etc. Thus, we may communicate emotions nonverbally; throughbody language.

One of the most influential and important researchers in the field of emotion, is Ekman. He found 7 basic emotions most often identified from photos of facial expressions: happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, disgust, and contempt. He also indicated that the use of facial expressions to communicate seems to be innate.



BASIC EMOTIONS

Over time it has conductedto define the emotions and the role each despite differentviews of authors such as Eckman, Ellstwort, Smith, Izard, Shaver and Weiner, they share a set of emotions , which are called primary emotions básicas.Las emotionsare those that are triggered in response to an event, for example: fear.

Fear: It is an emotion characterized by intense feelings usually unpleasant, caused by the perception ofdanger, real or imagined, present or future. It is a primary emotionthat derives from the natural aversion to risk or threat, and is manifested in bothanimals and humans. Fear is often confused with anxiety, which is an emotion that is often exaggerated and experienced even when the source of danger is not present or tangible. While fear is connected to anxiety and other emotional conditions, like...