Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 2, 2026
05:33
Experimental Paradigm for Measuring the Effect of Induced Emotion on Grammar Learning
Published on: January 29, 2020
6.5K
Data versus Spock: lay theories about whether emotion helps or hinders
Melissa M Karnaze1, Linda J Levine1
1a Department of Psychology and Social Behavior , University of California , Irvine , CA , USA.
Cognition & Emotion
|May 16, 2017
Summary
People view emotions as helpful, not hindering. Believing emotions aid functioning improves reasoning and well-being, while viewing them as a hindrance is linked to poorer outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Human Emotion Research
Background:
- Academic psychology widely accepts emotions' adaptive functions.
- Little is known about laypeople's theories on emotion's utility.
- Contrasting views: Data (emotion helpful) vs. Spock (emotion hindering).
Purpose of the Study:
- Assess laypeople's theories of emotion as helpful or hindering.
- Examine relationships between emotion theories, reasoning, emotion regulation, and well-being.
Main Methods:
- Surveyed 630 undergraduates on emotion theories, regulation strategies, happiness, and social support.
- Administered a stressful timed reasoning task.
- Correlational analysis of theories and psychological variables.
Main Results:
- Participants generally viewed emotion as more helpful than hindering.
- Higher endorsement of emotion-help theories correlated with better reasoning scores.
- Emotion-help theories predicted reappraisal, leading to greater happiness and social support.
- Emotion-hinder theories associated with emotion suppression and less social support.
Conclusions:
- Laypeople's theories about emotion's functionality significantly impact reasoning abilities.
- Beliefs about emotion's helpfulness are linked to effective emotion regulation and enhanced well-being.
- Understanding these theories offers insights into psychological health and cognitive performance.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Cognitive Theories: Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
2.0K
Stanley Schachter and Jerome Singer proposed the two-factor theory of emotion, which emphasizes the interplay between physiological arousal and cognitive labeling in forming emotional experiences. This theory suggests that emotions are not simply a result of physiological responses but rather a combination of these responses and the individual's cognitive interpretation of them.
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences...
Physiological Arousal and Cognitive Labeling
According to this theory, when an individual experiences...
2.0K
01:16Physiological Theories: James-Lange Theory of Emotion
2.4K
The James-Lange theory of emotion, proposed by William James and Carl Lange in the late 19th century, asserts that emotions are the result of physiological reactions to external stimuli. Contrary to the traditional view, which suggests that emotions directly arise from the perception of stimuli, this theory proposes that emotions occur as a consequence of the body's responses to such stimuli. According to this framework, an emotional experience is a cognitive interpretation of physiological...
2.4K
01:17Cognitive Theories: Lazarus Mediational Theory of Emotion
2.3K
Richard Lazarus' cognitive mediational theory highlights the pivotal role of cognitive appraisal in shaping emotional responses. According to this theory, the evaluation of a stimulus — based on personal values, goals, beliefs, and expectations — mediates the emotional response. This appraisal process is immediate and often occurs unconsciously, influencing the intensity and nature of the resulting emotion.
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that...
Cognitive Appraisal and Emotional Response
Lazarus proposed that...
2.3K
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
447
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
447
01:29The Influence of Cognition on Affect
260
Cognition plays a pivotal role in shaping emotional experiences, as demonstrated by Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory of emotion. According to this model, emotion arises from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation. The body’s physiological response to stimuli is ambiguous and only gains emotional significance through cognitive labeling. For instance, an increased heart rate and adrenaline surge while standing near an attractive person may be...
260
01:22Physiological Theories: Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
1.9K
The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, proposed by Walter Cannon and Philip Bard, challenges the notion that emotions are solely the result of physiological responses. Instead, this theory suggests that emotional experiences and physiological arousal occur simultaneously but operate through independent mechanisms. This dual response is initiated by the brain, specifically by the thalamus, which plays a critical role in processing sensory information.
Upon perceiving a stimulus, such as a dangerous...
Upon perceiving a stimulus, such as a dangerous...
1.9K