Are Emotions Universal? Exploring the Psychological Theories
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This study explores the question of whether emotions are universal or not, and discusses various psychological theories that support the universality of emotions. The study examines attribution theory, Darwinian theory, and the lexical approach to understand the nature of emotions and their expression across different cultures.
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Table of Contents INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1 MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1 Emotions are universal...........................................................................................................1 CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4 REFERENCES................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION Psychology refers a process or scientific study of human mind as how it behaves, why it behaves along with its all functions which affect behaviours (Sternberg and Sternberg, 2016). This present study is going to show and discuss a statement as whether emotions are universal or not and if they are universal then what are some reasons. This study will also show importance of psychological theories which helps in defining that there are some emotions which are universal and all culture of people have but capacity and ways of reacting differ than each others.Some effective theories which this study will discuss and show include: attribute theories, Darwinian Theory and Lexical approach. MAIN BODY Emotions are universal Before discussing about this statement is emotions are universal it is important to understand that what an emotion is. So, in the context of an emotion it can be said that emotions are biological states which are associated with nervous system. It is associated with thoughts which people have, feelings, behavioural responses and others. So, overall it can be said that it is one of the complexes state of feelings which lead in some physical and psychological changes which influences behaviours of people. There are mainly 7 types of emotions which have been proved and identified as universal (Trevarthen, 2017). 1
Figure1Emotions Sources: (Universal Emotions, 2019) All these feelings or emotions which are being stated as universal include: anger, sadness, happiness, fear, surprise, contempt and disgust. It is shocking and interesting to know that many of them are negative emotions. It can also be said that emotion is one of the important thing which motivate us to do something it may be right and wrong. It prepares people to deal with all important events in their lives without even thinking a lot about them. Some emotions do not last longer than 1 hour. For understanding that whether all these emotions are universal or cultural specific it is important to understand that how they are being influenced, experienced and expressed as well. In this context several authors stated that emotions are universal because all feelings like desire of getting something, freedom and others are hardwired into all of our brain and Hence, their range as well as nature are universal which is also being shared by humanity in different surveys as a whole. There are several ways by which people respond such as physical events, when they interactwithpeopleorsocialinteraction,imaginingaboutaneventorrememberingof something/someone and talking about, thinking about (Choudhary and et.al., 2018). All people 2
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have feelings but everyone does not have same emotions and even they have different ways and capacity to feel the same emotion in different ways. People try to understand each others’ emotions but it becomes difficult to them to understand that how other people feel and feeling because they have different capacities to bear problems, happiness and all other emotions and feelings than others. Some authors and theories state that there are some emotions which are universal because they are experienced in similar ways as a reaction to similar events across all cultures, different cultures understand different languages but they have same reaction on some events which shows that they all have same emotions and feelings but extent and capacity to show and bear differ them (Bozzo, 2019). There are several theories in psychology which can help out in understanding and clearing out that emotions are universal and why they are so. Some psychological theories which are being discussed in a detailed manner for discussing this main topic related to emotions are: Attribution theory:It is one of the best and effective psychology theory by which it can be understood in a detailed manner that emotions are universal along with reasons and examples. This theory in psychology assumes that people try to determine and identify that why other people react, why they do, what they do. It believes that attributes causes to behaviours of them. Attribution can be defined as a procedure by which people try to explain causes of their behaviours and events. So, it can be said that it is all about identifying and determining by people that how other people explain their causes and how they react.For more understanding this theory in the context of knowing that emotions are universal it is important to understand attribution in an effective and detailed manner as it is being mainly classified into 2 dimensions like internal and external (Martinko, 2018). It is again subdivided into 2 parts such in internal- stable and internal unstable, external-stable and external-unstable. In an internal type of attribution people guess that other person’s behaviours and reactions is due to their personal factors like their feelings, abilities and others. Whereas, in external type of attribution, they understand and guess that person’s their behaviours and ways of reacting is all because of some external and situational factors. Reacting according to internal and external basis is all depend upon the thought of an individual for example: If an individual’s car breakdown not on highway but on freeway then that individual can either make internal attribution or external as it all depends upon his thinking and thoughts. If he thinks that this car 3
breakdown happens due to his ignorance about cars and he did not take care of car then he may behave as like internal attribution. Whereas, if he thinks that car breakdown happens because of old model and car is old then his reaction or attribution will be external attribution. Reaction will be anger and depression but extent and capacity will be different. So, it can be said that emotions are universal just extent and capacity of showing them, bearing them differ than each others. One of the best models of attribution theory isKelley’scovariationmodel because this model is being developed in a logical manner which can help people in understand all attributes and reasons of people to behave and react (Attribution Theory,2012). It also helps them out in understandingthatwhetherpeople’sreactionoractionshouldbeattributedtosome characteristicsordispositionalorsituational.Covariationdefinesthatanindividualhas information from different or multiple observations at different situations. For identifying causes ofbehavioursandactionofpeople,othertrytofocuson3evidencelikeconsensus, distinctiveness and consistency. Consensus can be defined by same reaction as like others as a group of people is laughing and we have to judge only one person among them then we can identify his behaviour by his reaction as if he is also laughing then it can be known as consensus. In same situation if an individual among a group of people and if that individual laugh at everything then it may be identified by distinctiveness and if an individual rarely laugh then it can be judged by consistency. So, overall it can be said that causes may differ, capacity of reacting, laughing in same situations may differ but having same feelings than others is universal (Shaver, 2016). Darwinian Theory:It is a biological evolution theory which can also help in identifying that whether emotions are universal or not. This theory states that all organisms on this planet develop via the natural selection of inherited variations which increases ability of people to survive, reproduce and compete as well. Evolution or changes in characteristics of people or species have some variation but process of growing and developing is same. Emotions are universal because it is stated by some authors as per this theory that all life on this earth is connected or interlinked with eachother’sand this diversity of life is a product of "modifications of populations by natural selection. Emotions are considered a natural process and natural thing which all people have. Natural selection causes populations to become adapted and well suited as well. It is stated that process of getting changed and changes in characteristics of different culture 4
ofpeopleandpopulationhappenovermanygeneration.Therearedifferentculturesor generations of people who have feelings and basic needs. All people need food water and other resources for living and when they do not get it for the long term then they become tired and frustrated which lead anger sometimes. Way of showing their feelings may differ but having feelingsforthesameeventcannotbechanged.Changesinreactiondependuponthe environment and culture in which they live. So, it can be understood clearly that emotions are universal but reacting and capacity to react on those emotions are cultural or environmental (The Evolution of Emotion: Charles Darwin’s little Known Psychology Experimen,2010). Darwin stated that facial expressions of emotions which show anger, sadness, happiness and others are universal. For example if someone is happy then he will either smile or laugh and it cannot be possible that if someone is happy then he will express sadness or crying so, it can be said that extent may differ but reaction on events and feelings are same so, emotions are universal. In addition, he also said that all humans as well as animals show their emotions throughremarkablysimilarbehaviours.Emotionshaveanevolutionaryhistoryaslike development of human body which can be traced across species and cultures. It has been proven by several surveys in which different cultures of people share their feelings on the same event and most of them have same feelings but extent was different (Flew, 2018). Darwin also wanted to prove that there is a series of cardinal emotions which are expressed by all human in the same way and all these are biological. Lexical approach:Lexical approach is based on assumption which states that the most important personality traits are encoded as words in natural languages. As per this approach there are mainly 5 attributes on which this discusses as whether emotions are evolution or universal. All 5 attributes are: openness,Conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and neuroticism. It is a sedimentation thesis. It also states that personality traits as per this approach are the most important to people which become a part of their language. By making use of languages in an effective manner people show their feelings and personality traits. There are several different approaches which have used this approach in order to develop their personality taxonomies (Lexical Hypothesis2019). In the context of personality traits it is being analysed and identified that neuroticism is one of the main personality traits helps in studying of psychology in a detailed and effective manner. As per this personality traits behaviours and reactions of different cultures of people cab be understand. In this context it is also identified that people show scores high in 5
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this personality trait are more likely to average to be moody and have several negative emotions and feelings such as: anger, frustration, jealousy, fear, worry, anxiety, loneliness etc. So, as per this personality trait it can b said that different people have different extent of sharing their feelings and behaviours.Some people often seem depressed and some seems to be happy (Yu, 2018). It all because of their neuroticism personality trait but it does not mean that happier people only have feelings or emotions related to happiness and sad people only have sadness emotions and feelings, The only difference is their behaviours as some people have capacity to hide their emotions and as compare to others they have less neuroticism traits. This approach is being used by several authors and researchers in order to identify differentdimensionsofpersonality(Chapman,ReevesandChapin,2018).Personalityis conveyed through different parts of speech which include: adverbs and nouns. In addition, other main personality trait is openness which characteristics imagination and insight. People who scores in this trait are more likely to have a broad range of interest and creative as well. They do not feel hesitate to share something to someone and also focus on tackling or dealing new challenges. Whereas, people who scores less in this personality trait do not like changes and are less creative. So, from the above it can be said that all people have this trait but some people have high traits and some have less which proves that emotions and behaviours are universal as just extent and capacity differ which can be identified by evaluating and measuring these all 5 personality traits. Conscientiousness personality trait refers high level of thoughtfulness as well as goal oriented behaviours. People who scores high in this trait are more likely to pay attention to detail, finished important tasks in a timely manner or eliminate procrastination and those who do not score high become fail to return things and procrastinate the most. So, overall it can be said that emotions are universal as all people have same feelings with different capacity and extent. CONCLUSION From the above study it has been summarized that emotions played an important role as it shows behaviours and reaction on some events. This study has discussed as whether emotions are universal or not and with the help of effective strategies and models it has shown that emotions are universal. Al cultures of people have feelings which they show by reacting on some 6
situations and their internal attributes or factors. The only difference is ways of showing feelings, extent of feelings or capacity to bear it and show it. It is a psychological factor which all people have. Theories which this study has discussed for discussing this statement about emotions are universal include attribution theory which has being categorized in 2 parts such as internal and external attributes, lexical approach and Darwinian evolution theory. 7
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REFERENCES Books & Journal Bozzo, L., 2019.Human Emotions. Carson-Dellosa Publishing. Chapman,D.S.,Reeves,P.andChapin,M.,2018.ALexicalApproachtoIdentifying Dimensions of Organizational Culture.Frontiers in psychology.9. p.876. Choudhary,N.andet.al.,2018.Emotionsareuniversal:Learningsentimentbased representationsofresource-poorlanguagesusingsiamesenetworks.arXivpreprint arXiv:1804.00805. Flew, A., 2018.Darwinian evolution. Routledge. Martinko, M., 2018.Attribution theory: An organizational perspective. Routledge. Shaver, K.G., 2016.An introduction to attribution processes. Routledge. Sternberg, R.J. and Sternberg, K., 2016.Cognitive psychology. Nelson Education. Trevarthen, C., 2017. The function of emotions in early infant communication and development. InNew perspectives in early communicative development(pp. 48-81). Routledge. Yu, M., 2018, January. Research on Lexical Approach in College English Reading Teaching in EthnicMinorityAreas.In20177thInternationalConferenceonEducationand Management (ICEM 2017). Atlantis Press. Online Universal Emotions. 2019. [Online]. Available through <https://www.paulekman.com/universal- emotions/> AttributionTheory.2012.[Online].Availablethrough <https://www.simplypsychology.org/attribution-theory.html> The Evolution of Emotion: Charles Darwin’s little Known Psychology Experiment.2010. [Online].Availablethrough<https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the- evolution-of-emotion-charles-darwins-little-known-psychology-experiment/> LexicalHypothesis.2019.[Online].Availablethrough <https://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Lexical+Hypothesis> 9
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