Three Components of Emotion – Emotion (PSY)

00:00 Okay, let's get into how we really respond to the world around us.

00:05 So typically we were talking about is emotion.

00:07 And we are going to walk through the three main components of what makes up emotion.

00:12 So emotion is made up of three main components.

00:15 The first being the physiological component.

00:18 How does your body react to a stressor? The second is the behavioral component or our action in response to that stressor.

00:26 And third is the cognitive component.

00:28 Or mentally how is that we react to that stressor.

00:32 So collectively these three together will create the emotion that we impart.

00:36 So the first component I'm going to look at is physiological arousal.

00:41 Physiological arousal refers how does your body's internal state changes in response to that stressor.

00:48 So when you think of arousal, a lot of times you might think of say, sexual arousal.

00:53 What we're talking about here is a larger umbrella term looking at the physiological arousal.

00:59 A sexual arousal would fall underneath that.

01:01 But we're talking about things as well as that.

01:04 The second are the behavior reactions to the emotion.

01:08 Which includes how we express our behavior.

01:10 And then finally the cognitive aspect involves how we're going to interpret a situation that's in front of us.

01:16 Those three together will shape our emotion.

01:20 So as I walk through an example for you.

01:22 So, two different scenarios, I'm going to walk through how each component is going to react and respond to that scenario.

01:30 So scenario number 1.

01:32 You are going for a walk.

01:35 And you had to take a shortcut to the forest.

01:38 Now, as you're walking through the forest.

01:41 you are faced in front a large man-eating brown hairy bear.

01:48 Okay, so what's going to happen to you physiologically.

01:51 Physiologically you are going to have increased heart rate.

01:54 You are going to see an increase in blood pressure.

01:56 Your breathing might increase.

01:58 You might start to sweat profusely.

02:00 Typically reactions to a bear that you might have, right.

02:03 Behaviorally what's going to happen, you are going to start swearing, right.

02:08 I love swearing.

02:09 I swear my brains out.

02:10 You are going to arms in the air and you are going to have a complete behavior melt down.

02:15 Cognitively what's happening in the brain, how are you assessing the situation.

02:19 Like most people you are saying.

02:21 "Oh, my god! This bear is going to kill me." "What should I do?" And you've heard this term before when you're faced with a situation like that, as you say "My life flashed before my eyes." And that's exactly what happens as you start thinking of all the important things.

02:34 You think about your childhood.

02:36 You think about your mother.

02:37 You think about that little red bike that you wish you had.

02:40 All of this happens very quickly.

02:42 And that's your brain interpreting the situation of this man-eating brown hairy bear.

02:47 Now, you put those collectively, the physiological components.

02:51 The behavioral component and the cognitive component and that's going to equal crying, I'm scared.

02:57 That is the emotion fear.

02:59 Now let's take a look at another scenario.

03:02 You are preparing for the MCAT exam.

03:04 You write the MCAT exam and you ace you MCAT exam.

03:07 And now you're so excited.

03:08 Your mother is so excited for you that she's going throw for you a surprise party.

03:12 Now you walk in the door.

03:15 And you open the door, and everybody's there screaming, everybody's there.

03:20 You have your mom, your two friends, your parents, your cousins and everyone is there to celebrate in your success.

03:25 Now physiologically what's happening.

03:27 Well, the first thing that's going to happen is increased heart rate, increased blood pressure.

03:31 Your breathing is going to become more shallow.

03:33 And you have sweating.

03:35 As these look very similar to the physiological response that you had the bear attack.

03:39 So there's some commonalities there.

03:42 Behavioral what's going to happen, same thing.

03:44 You might start swearing as soon as you walk in.

03:47 Holy shish kabob! And you might also have your arms in the air.

03:51 Or you may cover your face because you are alarmed, right.

03:55 So that is some of that arousal we're talking about.

03:57 And the behavior that you're reacting to that arousal.

04:00 Now what differentiates this scenario with the bear scenario, is the fact that cognitively you are going to interpret the situation a little bit differently.

04:09 So initially you might be assessed as a dangerous situation.

04:14 A lot like the bear for you.

04:16 But now you realize that your friends are here.

04:19 Your mom is there.

04:21 You love your mom.

04:22 And so now you transition into something like, "Oh, I'm surprised and I'm very excited." And you begin to enjoy in the party that they have for you.

04:30 Okay, so just to summarize, three components, two of the threes, so physiological and behavioral would be the same, for the bear attack or the party your mum threw for you.

04:40 Like cognitively you see some difference is there.

04:43 And now results in two different emotions.

04:45 Fear versus happiness and excitement.