The occurrence of an emotion requires an individual to experience a significant situation in relation to his goals. The situation itself may be internal to the individual or may come from the environment, but it is mainly the meaning that the individual gives to the situation that allows an emotion to emerge (Gross, 1998). Just as the situation and its meaning will vary over time, so will the emotion. The objectives that will modulate this meaning may be short-, medium- or even long-term. They may concern central or peripheral aspects of our self-image. Moreover, these goals may be conscious and complex or unconscious and simple. Finally, they may be largely consensual or very singular (Gross, 1998).
Figure 1. The “modal model” of emotion emergence (2007), according to Gross and Thompson
Figure 1 represents a simplified model of the emergence of an emotion. Initially we find our significant situation (Situation), at the end we find the emotional response (Response). Between the two is the organic “black box” that represents the internal processes of emotional emergence, as well as the attentional processes (Attention) and the processes that allow us to cognitively evaluate what we perceive of the situation (Evaluation). The emotional response can then modify the situation that initiated it. By extension, by modifying the situation, this emotional response thus modifies the parameters of the next emotional response, which in turn will modify the next one… This recursivity can be represented by the arrow in Figure 1 (Gross & Thompson, 2007).
Impact of emotions
Research highlighted by Mikolajczack & Desseilles (2012) has shown many positive and negative consequences of emotions. On the positive side, it can be said that emotions prepare behavioural responses, modulate decision making, improve memory for important events and facilitate interpersonal interactions. On another side, emotions at the wrong time or of an inappropriate intensity can contribute to inappropriate emotional responses and, if repeated, can promote many forms of psychopathology, difficulties ; social and even physical illness (Campbell-Sills & Barlow, 2007; Eisenberg, Hofer, & Vaughan, 2007; Linehan & Bohus, 2007; Mullin & Hinshaw, 2007; Sapolsky, 2007; Shaver & Mikulincer, 2007; Sher & Grekin, 2007; Wranik, Barrett, & Salovey, 2007; cited by Gross & Thompson, 2007).
Emotions can stop or destabilize many mental processes, but they are not irrepressible and can be regulated by the individual to better match personal goals and socio-environmental demands.
Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of general psychology, 2(3), 271. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.2.3.271
Gross, J. J., et Thompson, R. A. (2007). Emotion regulation: Conceptual foundations. Repéré à http://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-01392-001
Mikolajczack, M. et Desseilles, M. (dir). (2012). Traité de régulation des émotions. Bruxelles : De Boeck.
Words I have learned :
- recursivity = récursivité
- behavioural responses = réactions comportementales