To what extent do cognitive and biological factors interact in emotion (for example,
two factor theory, arousal theory, Lazarus’ theory of appraisal)?
How do cognitive and biological factors interact in emotion? There is an
interaction between the two, but how much do they interact. According to the twofactor theory and the appraisal theory, cognitive and biological factors interact in
emotion to an extent that is less than half.
The two-factor theory was a theory developed by Schachter and Singer in
1962, combines both biological and cognitive level of analysis. The experiment was
done in a biological perspective, but it became into a cognitive theory. The research
concludes that biological aspects as well as the cognition attributes to experiencing
emotions. The researchers were examining the how participants being subjected to
adrenaline and the cognitions available to them at the time describe their feelings.
Adrenaline was injected into the participants causing them to be physiologically
aroused, but the participants weren’t told that it was adrenaline. The side effects
were told to one group, but not to the other group. From the results, they concluded
that, if a person know of the side effects and understand why they feel the way they
feel, they will less likely label their feelings according to the supporting factor
(Adrenaline) or the alternative cognition available. If a person doesn’t understand
the situation they are in or they have no explanation, then they would more likely
describe their feelings according to the factor or cognitions available to them.
If siding with the two-factor theory, both biological and cognitive reactions
present in order for an emotion to occur. The biological part is the physiological
intake of the adrenaline. The cognitive factor is what their environment they
perceive at that time, so in this theory both cognitive and biological aspects play an
equal role in creating emotion.
The Cognitive appraisal theory by Lazarus (1960) it states that emotion
totally depend on how a person interprets or perceive the situation they are in. In
the theory there were three appraisals: the primary appraisal, secondary appraisal
and the reappraisal. The primary appraisal is how a person perceives their situation
wither as good or bad, and will determine how the person feels. The secondary
appraisal is the evaluation of the action that is perceived. The reappraisal is thinking
about the situation again with more information. The theory says nothing about
biological factors playing a role in emotions as if we find situation that is good and
beneficial we will express a happy emotion, thus making this theory base solely on
the cognitive aspect.
In conclusion, with the data received the conclusion is that both cognitive
and biological plays a role in performing an emotion, but cognitive more. This is
because from the given data there is proof that expression of emotion is partly
biological, but the cognitive appraisal theory is proof that it plays more of an affect
on people.