Psychology › Section J · Emotion and motivation › Topic J.4

Emotion

A racing heart, a tight face and a sudden feeling of fear arrive together so fast that they seem like one thing. Psychologists have argued for more than a century about which comes first, and the answers shape how we understand feelings, faces and even lie detectors.

In this topic

  • What an emotion is
  • James-Lange and Cannon-Bard
  • Arousal plus a label: the two-factor theory
  • Appraisal, speed and the fear pathway
  • Emotions as constructions
  • Worked example: one racing heart, four theories
  • The emotional brain
  • Faces across cultures
  • Does smiling make you happier?
  • Worked example: judging a lie detector
  • Common mistakes to avoid
  • Key takeaways

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