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PSYCHOLOGY
Objectives After completing this chapter, you will be able to • define the concept of emotions; • identify the two basic psychological dimensions of emotions; • describe the three aspects of all emotions; • explain the three basic theories of emotions; • specify how chronic stress affects general health; • state the conditions of the four basic kinds of psychological conflict. What would life be like without emotions? In some ways life would be better. We would not experience the distress associated with anger, fear, and depression. We would never be in a bad mood. There would be no unhappiness. On the other hand, without emotions there would be no joy, laughter, or excitement. We would never know the pleasure of a good mood. There would be no happiness. Emotions give life much of its dimension and depth. Although emotions can sometimes diminish the quality of existence, they also often enrich life. The ups and downs associated with our emotional states give life something of the quality of a roller-coaster ride. Some people live a wild emotional life characterized by extreme highs and lows. Others lead a more rational emotional life—the highs and lows are not too extreme. But we all ride life’s emotional roller coaster in one way or another. Consequently, emotions merit study and have an important place in psychology.
Emotions: What Are They? The word emotion is a contraction of two words: exit and motion. The ancient Greeks believed that the smiles and the frowns associated with such states as happiness or sadness indicated that the soul was coming out of the body and revealing itself. It was making an “exit motion.” This became “e-motion” or simply “emotion.” An emotion is, at the physiological level, a disruption in homeostatic baselines. There are changes in heart rate, respiration rate, and blood pressure. These are fluctuations in arousal. At the psychological level, these physiological changes are experienced as either greater excitement or increased calmness. Human beings also experience these changes as either pleasant or unpleasant. (a) The word emotion is a contraction of what two words?
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