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Theories of Emotion

In: Social Issues

Submitted By Oliviuh2
Words 1945
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Why So Sad?
That Motivational Factors That Influence Emotion
By Olivia Saporito

Olivia Saporito
Dr. Friedenburg
Final Paper
Why So Sad?
That Motivational Factors That Influence Emotion

Defining and explaining human emotion is an extremely challenging feet. However, in regards to psychology, an emotion is often defined as “a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.” Emotion can also be understood as an integration of specific ideas such as, subjective cognition, biological similarities, purposive functionality, and social expression.
Subjective cognition represents the component of our emotion that explains why one individual feels happiness, subjectively and differently than say another individual. For example, Jane may feel happiness much different and much more frequent than say, Alice. Subjective cognition also accounts for how our thoughts and experiences contribute towards why we emote. An example of this aspect of subjective cognition could be exemplified in the following scenario; Lilly’s father used to always take her fishing. Every time they went fishing he would always wear the same red hat. Unfortunately, right after Lilly turned 8, her father passes away tragically. A couple years later, she is out with her friends and sees a man wearing a red hat, holding a fishing pole in one hand, and his daughter’s hand in the other. Lilly begins to feel overwhelmed with emotion and bursts into tears. Her friends have no idea why. This scenario is a perfect example of how our thoughts and experiences influence our emotions.
Our biological similarities represent the aspect of emotion that deals with why we share similar physiological reactions in certain situations. Like, for example, screaming when shocked or surprised, or why most of us cry when feeling very sad. These

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