Understanding Psychology (10th Ed)

 Module 
31 
Understanding Emotional Experiences 
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334 Chapter 
10 
Motivation and Emotion
been attacked by a vicious pit bull, the amygdala processes that information and 
leads us to react with fear when we see a pit bull later—an example of a classically 
conditioned fear response (Miller et al., 2005; Berntson et al., 2007; Kensinger, 2007; 
LaBar, 2007). 
Because neural pathways connect the amygdala, the visual cortex, and the 
hippocampus (which plays an important role in the consolidation of memories), 
some scientists speculate that emotion-related stimuli can be processed and 
responded to almost instantaneously (see Figure 3). This immediate response 
occurs so rapidly that higher-order, more rational thinking, which takes more time, 
seems not to be involved initially. In a slower but more thoughtful response to 
emotion-evoking stimuli, emotion-related sensory information is fi rst evaluated 
and then sent on to the amygdala. It appears that the quicker system offers an 
immediate response to emotion-evoking stimuli, whereas the slower system helps 
confi rm a threat and prepare a more thoughtful response (Dolan, 2002). 

 MAKING SENSE OF THE MULTIPLE 
PERSPECTIVES ON EMOTION 
As new approaches to emotion continue to develop, it is reasonable to ask why 
so many theories of emotion exist and, perhaps more important, which one pro-
vides the most complete explanation. Actually, we have only scratched the surface. 
There are almost as many explanatory theories of emotion as there are individual 
emotions (e.g., Manstead, Frijda, & Fischer, 2003; Frijda, 2005; Prinz, 2007; Herz-
berg, 2009). 
Why are theories of emotion so plentiful? For one thing, emotions are not a 
simple phenomenon but are intertwined closely with motivation, cognition, neuro-
science, and a host of related branches of psychology. For example, evidence from 
brain imaging studies shows that even when people come to supposedly rational, 
nonemotional decisions—such as making moral, philosophical judgments—emotions 
come into play (Greene et al., 2001). 
In short, emotions are such complex phenomena, encompassing both biological 
and cognitive aspects, that no single theory has been able to explain fully all the 
facets of emotional experience. Furthermore, contradictory evidence of one sort or 
another challenges each approach, and therefore no theory has proved invariably 
accurate in its predictions.