It's simple...when we talk about emotions, we're talking about two inter-related things...mood and affect. Mood is the internal sensation we feel. It's our basic responses and processing of internal stimuli. Moods arise from the complicated interactions of the neuro-chemical and hormonal systems of the brain-body (yes, it's all one system...there is no mind seperate from the brain....go with me on this).
Affect is our excternal and outward expression of mood. Mood is largely (not enitrely) out of our direct control. Mood happens. Affect is almost enitrely in our control (i.e. I can smile at you even if I don;t like being around you).
Now, when we talk about the varied emotions....keep in mind that there really are just a few basic emotions. these are the emotions seen most often in babies. Anger, disgust, fear, joy, contentment and boredom. Interesting social/psychological studies indicate that these basic emotions are readily recognizable across most 9if not all) cultures. A aboriginal tribesman who has never had contatc with western society woudl recognize the affective expressions of these moods. It's fascinating research to read about.
all other emotional expressions really are just mixtures of these basic emotions. Like primary colors make up all the colors in the world...so do basic emotions.
These more complex emotions are mroe tied to experience...they are shaped up over time (learned if you will) by cultural, familial, interpersonal expereince. Things such as anxiety (related to but not exactly fear), shame, love (romatic), friendship, uncertainty, embarrassment, confidence, etc.
Since these complex emotions are generally "learned" they are more readily changesd...although as they are often learned veyr early on in development, change can be difficult and hard to accomplish.
the basic emotions are not learned....they are based on physiological reactions to stimuli. We cannot consciousl;y prevent this from happening...anger will happen, joy will happen, dsigust will happen....the mood will occur. All we can control is our affect....how we express these basic emotions. But the emotions still happens....the pbsyiological series of changes that underly that emotion still happen.
In short (I know, too late), you can't NOT get angry. Generally, people who don't get angry are just stuffing it (or are really good at managing their emotions when others aren't around). Anger stuffed just festers and does awful things to your emotuional and physical well-being...and sooner or later....it comes out. Later is bad and I've never seen a case where old anger was expressed in a healthy and productive way....and I've worked with my fair share of angry folks.
Tellign someone to smile, to jsut ignore it, in my opinion is bad advice. yes, maybe they need to smile in the moment, maybe they need to cognitively reframe the triggers so as to manage the physiolgoical repsonse...but they shoudl NEVER avoid feeling emotions. We're humans...not vulcans.
basically, feeling is not acting. Feeling is good and necessary...acting, that's a different story and that's all we, as humans really have any control over.
Peace,
Erik
Hello, "If" anger is a basic emotion....and not learn? Why do some people do not get angry over the same things that happen in life?
Hate is a learn emotion....anger is a learn emotions...and we can all control those emotions....because it is learn and can be change..
Every child wants to be like the people raiseing them up...and they learn to copy any role models around them....!
If it is a basic emotion....how do we get it this " basic anger" is it given to all of us? ....in different amounts? IF it is NOT learn.
Basic emotions - Anger 857 left, Love 3 million left, sadness- 1 1/2 million left, hate 2 left, laughing- unlimited.
Learn or not, given as basic tool for humans....everyone ....CAN CHANGE!
Aloha, ..anyone got change for 2 anger's and one sadness?....looking for one happiness to go!
