Main Theories of Emotional Psychology
Theories of emotions have long been the subject of study and debate in psychology. As science has advanced, different approaches have been developed to understand human emotional functioning. These include physiological, cognitive, and neurological theories, each with its own view of how emotions arise and evolve.
Older theories of emotion emphasized the importance of the autonomic nervous system in emotional processing. According to this perspective, physiological reactions, such as heartbeat or pulse rate, are the first step toward emotional experience. The brain then processes these signals and interprets what we are experiencing.
However, there are also more cognitive theories of emotions , which hold that thought is fundamental to the emotional process. According to this view, not only the physiological reaction, but also thought patterns and the evaluation of external stimuli are decisive in determining the emotion we experience.
The integration of these different approaches has led to modern theories, such as cognitive appraisal theory , which suggests that thinking is a precursor to emotional experience. What makes us feel? The answer is not only connected to our physics, but also to our way of thinking.
As we continue to explore the complexities of the emotional process, it becomes clear that each theory has its own wisdom and can be helpful in better understanding how our emotions work.
What is emotional psychology?
Emotional Psychology: Understanding Human Emotions
Emotional psychology refers to the study of human emotions and how they affect our behavior, thinking, and well-being. This field of study aims to understand human emotional functioning, identify the patterns and processes that generate it, and develop strategies to improve emotional management.
Emotions are a natural and integral part of human life, and as such, are the subject of study in emotion theory . Emotional psychology is based on the idea that our emotions are not merely irrational reactions, but are closely related to our biology, personal experience, environments, and cultures.
Research in emotional psychology covers a wide range of topics, including bonding, stress, anxiety, sadness, happiness, decision making, and many others. Experts in this field seek to understand how our emotions are generated, evolve, and affect our lives, in order to develop strategies that allow us to better manage our feelings and live better lives.
Main theories of emotional psychology
Major Trends in Emotional Psychology: An Approach to Physiological, Cognitive and Neurological Theories
As emotional psychology develops as a field of study, different theories about how our emotions work have emerged. These theories can be seen as trends or approaches that seek to explain the human emotional process.
Physiological theories hold that physical and biological reactions are the first steps toward emotional experience. According to this perspective, our emotions arise from physical changes in our bodies, such as heartbeat or pulse rate. These theories focus on the role that autonomic and endocrine nervous system functions play in regulating our emotions.
On the other hand, cognitive theories emphasize the fundamental role that thought patterns and the evaluation of external stimuli play in the formation of our emotions. According to this view, not only the physiological reaction, but also our way of thinking and evaluating the situation is crucial in determining the emotion we experience.
In addition, neurological theories seek to understand how our brain processes emotional information. According to this perspective, our emotions are the result of the interaction between specific brain regions and the patterns of neural activity that are established in response to external stimuli.
The integration of these different approaches has led to more complex and holistic theories about how our emotions work.
Theory of biological emotions
Cognitive Appraisal Theory: The Role of Thinking in the Formation of Emotions
Cognitive appraisal theory, also known as the emotion theory appreciated by Daniel Ellsworth, is one of the main theories of emotional psychology. According to this view, the emotional process begins with a cognitive appraisal of the environmental stimulus.
In this sense, when we face an external stimulus, our brain quickly evaluates whether that stimulus is positive, neutral or negative. This evaluation is based on thought patterns and previous experience. If the stimulus is interpreted as exciting or unpleasant, our body responds with a corresponding physiological response.
For example, if we perceive a pleasant stimulus, such as the sound of music, our brain evaluates this experience as positive and our body responds with a hormonal and neurological response that makes us feel happy. However, if the stimulus is unexpected or unpleasant, our cognitive evaluation may be negative and our body responds with a physiological stress response.
Cognitive appraisal theory suggests that emotions are the result of the interaction between our appraisal of environmental stimuli and our prior beliefs and experiences. This means that our emotions are not simply an irrational response to a stimulus, but are influenced by our cognitive processes and prior experience.
In this theory, thought plays a crucial role in the formation of emotions. Our brain constantly evaluates the environment and our previous experience to determine how we respond to external stimuli.
Theory of cognitive emotional processes
The Theory of Cognitive Emotions: The Role of Thought in the Formation of Emotions
Cognitive emotion theory is one of the main theories of emotional psychology that focuses on the role of thinking and cognitive evaluation in the formation of emotions.
According to this theory, emotional processes are the product of the interaction between environmental information and our way of thinking. This means that our emotions do not arise directly from a stimulus situation, but are influenced by our patterns of thinking and evaluation of the environment.
Key components of this theory include:
- Evaluations : Our brain constantly evaluates the environment and our previous experience to determine how we respond to external stimuli.
- Beliefs : Our beliefs about ourselves, others, and the outside world influence how we think and respond to stimuli.
- Interpretation : We interpret environmental stimuli according to our beliefs and previous experience.
Cognitive emotion theory suggests that emotions are the result of the interaction between environmental information, our beliefs, and our way of thinking. This means that emotions are not simply an irrational response to a stimulus, but are influenced by our cognitive processes and previous experience.
Furthermore, this theory emphasizes the importance of context and environment in shaping our emotions. This means that the same experiences can generate different emotions in different contexts or conditions.
The theory of cognitive emotions maintains that emotions arise from the interaction between environmental information, our beliefs and our way of thinking.
Theory of learning and human behavior
Learning Theory and Human Behavior: The Perspective of Edward Tolman and Clark Hull
Learning theory and human behavior refers to a perspective that seeks to understand how humans acquire new skills, beliefs, and behaviors. This theory was developed by psychologists such as Edward Tolman and Clark Hull in the 1940s.
Tolman’s Learning Theory
Edward Tolman proposed that learning occurs through experience and exploration, leading to the formation of internal cognitive maps. According to this theory:
- Cognitive Maps : Humans build internal maps that represent their environment and the relationship between causes and effects.
- Exploratory Learning : Learning occurs through exploration and experimentation with the environment.
- Motivation : Motivation is fundamental to learning, as individuals seek to reinforce their beliefs and behaviors.
Hull’s Behavioral Theory
Clark Hull developed a theory of behavior that focused on the idea that behaviors occur through the desire to avoid pain (aversion) or achieve a reward (appetite). According to this theory:
- Energy and Disposition : The disposition to learn would depend on emotional energy and motivation.
- Reinforcement : Positive or negative reinforcement would influence the individual’s behavior.
- Punishment : Punishment (thought) and pain (emotional) would be important factors in the formation of behavior.
Both theories attempt to explain how humans acquire new knowledge, skills, and behaviors through experimental and exploratory learning. Although these theories may seem widely different, they share the goal of understanding how individuals interact with their environment and develop behavioral patterns.
Learning theory and human behavior refers to a perspective that seeks to understand how humans acquire new skills, beliefs, and behaviors through experimental and exploratory learning. Tolman and Hull’s theories attempt to explain how the desire to avoid pain or achieve a reward influences the formation of behavior.
Theory of communication with others
Communication Theory: The Perspective of Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead
Communication theory refers to a perspective that seeks to understand how people interact with each other, creating meanings and relationships. This theory was developed by social psychologists such as Charles Horton Cooley and George Herbert Mead in the 1900s.
Cooley’s Ego Theory
Charles Horton Cooley proposed that the ego (personal identity) is formed through interactions with others. According to this theory:
- Ego : The ego is the sum of our social perceptions and experiences.
- Reflection : Our ego reflects our own image, shaped by the feelings and perceptions of other people.
- Fellowship : Bonding and ties with others are essential to ego development.
Mead’s Theory of Self
George Herbert Mead developed a more advanced theory on communication and the self (self-awareness). According to this theory:
- I : The self is the ability to reflect on our own actions and feelings.
- Ego : Personal identity is formed through role exchange and communication with others.
- Conversation : Conversation (the process of communication) is fundamental to the development of the self and the formation of society.
Mead suggested that people not only respond to external stimuli, but are also anthropomorphized (given a personality or intention of their own), leading to the formation of meanings and social roles. This perspective views communication as a two-way process involving both the sending and receiving of information.
Both theories attempt to explain how people interact with each other, creating meanings and relationships. Although these theories may seem widely different, they share the goal of understanding how social interactions lead to the formation of the ego and self.
Communication theory refers to a perspective that seeks to understand how people interact with each other, creating meanings and relationships. Cooley and Mead’s theories attempt to explain how the ego and self are formed through social interaction and communication.
Conclusion
Theories of emotional psychology, learning and human behavior, and communication may seem different on the surface, but they share the goal of understanding how we function as human beings. These theories offer us unique perspectives on how emotions are produced and managed, how we acquire new skills and behaviors, and how we interact with each other.
Tolman and Hull’s theory of learning and human behavior teaches us that experiential and exploratory learning is fundamental to developing patterns of behavior. Cooley’s theory of ego shows us how social interaction shapes our personal identity, while Mead’s theory of self reveals the importance of communication in forming our self-awareness.
Therefore, theories of emotional psychology, learning and human behavior, and communication are essential to understanding how we function as human beings and how we can improve our relationships and personal well-being.
