Emotions

Description of Darwin

Darwin believed emotions are simply a product of evolution. According to Darwin behaviors send signals to the brain that will “enhance their communicative function” and “opposite messages are often signaled by opposite movements and postures” (Pinel, 2009, p. 432). Behavior such as aggression or submission are threat displays Darwin believes are a product of evolution.

Brain Mechanisms Involved

Darwin believed expressions are learned and are variable. Although cultures vary widely in beliefs, expressions are similar in other cultures. People can control facial expression and thus, control emotions.

Description of James-Lange

Pinel (2009, p. 433) states, “Automatic and somatic responses trigger the experience of emotion in the brain.” James-Lange believes activity and behavior are the responses of an emotional event that triggers emotion. Feedback from the nervous system is believed to cause emotional response in the James-Lange theory.

Brain Mechanisms Involved

The cortex receives stimuli which elicit emotion; the cortex interprets emotion, changing the automatic response of the nervous system and muscles.

Description of Cannon-Bard

According to Pinel (2009), two independent effects occur from the emotional stimuli in the Cannon-Bard theory: the feeling and expression of emotion.

Brain Mechanisms Involved

The Cannon-Bard theory believes the emotional expression in people have no direct relation to the behavior. Feeling and expression are independent variables of perception. The hypothalamus is critical in the function of the cortex and direct responses of emotion and behavior.

Description of Limbic System

Papez proposed emotional states are expressed through action (Pinel, 2009, p. 435). Perception leads to both emotion and action, at the same time. Emotion leads to physiological reactions within the body. Actions within the body through the brain structures create our emotional states.

Brain Mechanisms Involved

The brain contains neural structures called the limbic system, which contain key structures that include “the amygdala, mammillary body, hippocampus, fornix, cortex of the cingulated gyrus, septum, olfactory bulb, and hypothalamus” (Pinel, 2009, p. 435).

References

Pinel (2009). Biopsychology (7th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.