Ekman, P. (1992). An argument for basic emotions. Cognition & Emotion, 6(3-4), 169–200. Web.
Ekman’s (1992) article builds on the previous evidence regarding emotions’ connection to physiological states and seeks to clarify the definitions and theorize on the types of emotions. First, being one of his century’s most cited psychology researchers, Ekman (1992) distinguishes between moods and emotions by noting the latter’s brief duration, which was not emphasized in James’s earlier theories.
Second, expanding on prior theories that view emotional states as sensations’ outcomes, the researcher distinguishes between basic emotions (BE) and other similar phenomena. To achieve this, he produces a nine-point definition of BEs. Some features of a BE pertain to similar emotions in animals and physical manifestations unique to this emotion. Overall, the selected source illustrates a transition from physiology-related perspectives on emotion to more complex attempts to classify particular states. Thus, the work explores the spectrum of human emotionality and supports discussions regarding the evolution of emotional research.
James, W. (1884). What is an emotion? Mind, 9(34), 188–205. Web.
James (1884), a renowned psychology researcher, problematizes the research community’s excessive attention to the brain’s cognitive/volitional performance and no appreciation of emotions. Relying on physiological evidence, he theorizes that brain processes about emotions resemble and are inextricably connected to sensory processes. Opposing previous viewpoints, the researcher argues that emotion is not a pure realization of a stimulus and cannot exist without bodily symptoms accompanying it.
From the author’s perspective, emotions emerge due to sensations associated with specific stimuli, not mental images occurring in the person’s mind due to various encounters. The researcher proves this point concerning the speed of physiological and emotional reactions. For instance, seeing unclear silhouettes in the woods causes heartbeat changes before a person realizes the existence of a potential threat and gets frightened. Seeking to develop a physiological perspective on emotion, the source provides a foundation for feel-good theories and can be used to explore the evolution of research in the field.