Motivation and emotion/Lectures/Nature of emotion
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Figure 1. Emotions are triggered by significant life events and have at least four distinct components: feelings, bodily arousal, social expression, and goal-directed sense of purpose (Reeve, 2018) 
Plutchik's wheel of emotions represents the valence and intensity of core emotions using colour. More detail. 
Lecture 07: Nature of emotion
This is the seventh lecture for the motivation and emotion unit of study.
 | This lecture is complete for 2023. |
Overview[edit | edit source]
This lecture discusses key questions about the psychology of emotion.
Take-home messages:
- Emotions involve subjective feelings, physiological and neurological change, expressive behaviour, and guide motivation
- Emotions serve adaptative, functional purposes
Outline[edit | edit source]
- What is an emotion?
- What causes an emotion?
- How many emotions are there?
- What good are emotions?
- How can we control our emotions?
- What is the difference between emotion and mood?
Core emotions[edit | edit source]
According to Reeve (2018):
- Fear
- Anger
- Disgust
- Sadness
- Interest
- Joy
Other candidates:
- Contempt
- Surprise
Readings[edit | edit source]
- Chapter 12: Nature of emotion: Six perennial questions (Reeve, 2018)
Multimedia[edit | edit source]
- Feeling all the feels (CrashCourse Psychology #25, YouTube) (2:01 mins): an introduction to emotion
- Emotions and the brain (Sentis, YouTube, 2012) (2:02 mins): a simple, clear explanation of emotions, the brain, and emotion regulation
- Inside out - Meet Riley's emotions (Pixar, YouTube, 2015) (3:08 mins): Trailer for the animated movie Inside Out which provides an entertaining look at our inner emotions and memories
- What is an emotion? (Paul Ekman) (Mind with Heart, 2012, YouTube) (7:35 mins): Paul Ekman explains what emotion is, why we have emotions, and how they can be regulated
- Lie to me (Quicksubs, YouTube, 2015) (2:01 mins): Trailer for a TV series about lie detection through analysis of facial expression and body language
Slides[edit | edit source]
- Nature of emotion (Google Slides)
See also[edit | edit source]
- Lectures
- Mindsets, control, & the self (Previous lecture)
- Aspects of emotion (Next lecture)
- Tutorial
- Wikipedia
Recording[edit | edit source]
Lecture 07 (2023)
References[edit | edit source]
Ekman, P. & Cordaro, D. (2011). What is meant by calling emotions basic. Emotion Review, 3, 364–370. https://doi.org/10.1177/1754073911410740
James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9, 188–205.
External links[edit | edit source]
- How to spot a liar (Pamela Meyer, TED Talk, YouTube, 2011, 18:51 mins)
- In depressed people, the medial prefrontal cortex exerts more control over other parts of the brain (PsyPost, 2017)