In the November issue of Odyssey, a science magazine for children, learning sciences professor Andrew Ortony explains the basics of human emotions and how they function. Ortony is a professor of education, psychology, and computer science. "An emotion is a state of mind accompanied by certain bodily changes," Ortony is quoted as saying. "Emotions play a major role in human decision-making and planning - sometimes beneficial and sometimes not."
Ortony describes the four aspects of emotion: physical, cognitive, motivational and behavioral. Physical aspects of emotion include signs of emotion such as smiling, trembling and sweating. Cognitive aspects of emotion involve understanding an environment or experience as pleasurable or painful. Motivational aspects involve the wish to avoid pain and prolong pleasure, and behavioral aspects refer to actions that result from emotions.
He also makes these points about emotion:
- Although people may not be able to identify the emotions they are feeling, such as apprehension or envy, their body language may reveal these emotions to others.
- Whether they are positive or negative, emotions signal something that is important to a person. "You can't get into an emotional state about something that does not matter to you," Ortony is noted as saying in "Name That Emotion."
- As people mature, their emotions grow more complicated because of the influence of growing cognition. The ability to understand moral responsibility, for example, can lead to feelings of guilt or satisfaction.
- With maturity also comes the ability to control emotions. In contrast, a young child may have temper tantrums because he or she hasn't yet learned how to communicate verbally.
- Emotions are changeable and can morph quickly.
- Emotions influence decision making and goal setting. They act as signals to the brain to notice something that is experienced as positive or negative in a person's environment.
Last Modified: 8/14/09