Emotionor affect, is an evaluative
response that typically includes some
combination of physiological arousal,
subjective
experience
(positive,
negative,
or
ambivalent),
and
behavioral expression.
Six basic emotions:
Joy, anger, surprise, fear,
sadness, and disgust.
Preceding eventsthe environmental
circumstances and individual reactions
that have a strong impact on particular
emotional experiences.
Feeling rulesparticular cultural
norms and regulations about how to
feel in particular situations.
Source: Shiraev E. and Levy, D. Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2007). Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Display rulespatterns of emotional
expression considered appropriate
within a particular culture, age, or
social group.
Emotion RecognitionThe process
of identification, description, and
explanation
of
an
emotional
expression.
Source: Shiraev E. and Levy, D. Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2007). Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Emotion as a process:
Preceding event

Physiological response

Assessment of the emotion

Expressive behavior (facial
expression, reaction, etc.)

Change in some element of
cognitive functioning
(judgment).
Source: Shiraev E. and Levy, D. Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2007). Boston: Allyn and Bacon
Physiological Arousal. There are significant crosscultural similarities in the underlying physiological
mechanisms of emotions. Universally, we detect stimuli
from our surroundings and our body. The signal then goes
to the brain. The amygdala serves as the brain’s
‘emotional
computer’:
it
assesses
the
affective
significance of the stimulus. Therefore, irrelevant stimuli
may cause no emotion. Then the hypothalamus, as a part
of the limbic system, activates sympathetic and endocrine
responses related to emotion. The brain’s cortex also
plays several roles with respect to emotion, particularly in
the appraisal of stimuli. Moreover, the right hemisphere is
believed to be responsible for the facial displays of
emotion.
Current research also suggests that pleasant
emotions are associated with the activation of the left
frontal cortex, whereas unpleasant emotions are mostly
associated with the activation of the right frontal lobe.
Source: Shiraev E. and Levy, D. Cross-Cultural Psychology. (2007). Boston: Allyn and Bacon