Specific Literature Review Paper: Extinction of Emotion

Basic Emotions
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Abstract
Human emotions are quite complex but they can be simplified into seven basic emotions, that is, fear, anger, sadness, contempt, disgust as well as surprise. These are all expressed differently relative to the stimuli received in the environment. One of the most researched element about basic human emotions is whether they are genetic or nurtured within the social environment. There are indications that some of the emotions are derived from genetics while others are acquired. However, there is also a third element associated with the genetic aspects interacting with the environment. The element of unlearning the basic emotions is associated with the developmental challenges faced by the individuals. Emotions that are suppressed tend to be overcompensated through malfunctioned adaptive mechanisms. The research will be conducted through evaluation of quality research material along with books on the topic to build on the argument. It is expected that most of the results will be largely associated with developmental elements of the persons, with reference to unlearning their basic emotions. In light of the fact that there have been quite a number of mass shooting where the perpetrators are victims of bullying, there is need to understand the underlying cause. Much of the emphasis has been laid on the bullies in the past, however not much is given to the victims who suffer silently and eventually develop antisocial tendencies and eventually become dangerous and suicidal.
Human Emotions
At the core of every human being are the basic emotions that we exhibit. When one interacts with their immediate environment, there are elements of the stimuli that they interact with which determines how they react (MacNeill, 2009). When one interacts with certain stimuli in their environment, they tend to react in a given way. The element of human emotions is widely studied and one that has elicited a myriad of research and theories. This is in light of the fact that, is one of the most interesting elements of the human beings (Black, 2016). The fact that they are able to exhibit different set of emotions. Sometime the emotions are straight forwards and easily understood from the basic precepts of what is seen in nature. In some of the cases, humans are going to be quite complicated. The element of emotions is thus one that is filled with intrigue and awe, relative to the differentiation and the applications along with expression. There are an average of seven emotions that are associated with humans and they are expressed through different scenarios. The emotions include fear, anger, sadness, contempt, disgust as well as surprise. These are emotions that are largely associated with the different stimuli that humans interact with in their environment (Iep.utm.edu, 2016).
Thesis statement: It is possible to unlearn the basic emotions to a point where you would have an Extinction of Emotion.
Literature Review
Basic Emotions Characterized
There are quite some basic characteristics that are associated with anger. One of the basic elements of the basic emotions is the fact that they tend to be universal. When one is angry there some of the characterized facial cues that one can use understand those around them when angry. In most cases, when one is angry, they are going to pull down their eyebrows, the upper lips tends to pull up and it is also common for the lower lip to be pulled up (Borges, 2013). The margin of the lips which is the part on the either side of the mouth tends to roll in as the lips on the upper side and the lower side tighten upwards and tighten on the face. This is the basic way of reaction when one is angered or simply irritated by someone or something (Humintell.com, 2016).
The other emotion that is quite basic is fear. This is an emotions that has also been associated with evolution and the need to survive. Ideally, it is one of the survival instincts that has been around for the longest time of the human evolution. When one if petrified, horrified, mortified and scared, they are going to show this emotion (Humintell.com, 2016). There are facial characteristics that are associated with someone that is experiencing the emotion of fear, which include the eyebrows will be pulled up and together, the eyelids tend to be pulled up and the mouth will always be stretched. Like anger, this characterization is largely universal. Meaning that everyone across the world will have some element of these characterization when they feel frightened.
The emotion of disgust is one that is associated with feeling revulsion or the case where one feels profound disapproval which may be aroused by some that one may consider to be unpleasant. It is also common when one encounters something that is offensive. When one is disgusted, they are going to display a number of characterized facial expressions which include eyebrows pulled down, the nose tends to be wrinkled, the upper lip is going to be pulled up and the lip on the lower side is going to be let loose (Humintell.com, 2016).
One other emotion that is common is contempt, which basically relates to feeling of worthlessness directed towards someone or something, this is also associated with feelings of scorn, disdain, slighting, disregard, disrespect and derision among others (Humintell.com, 2016). When one if expressing contempt, their eyes are going to be characterized with a neutral stance. With respect to their mouth and lips, there is an element of pulling them to one side. It is important to note that this is the only unilateral expression, relative to the fact that, the characterization tends to show a bias on one side of the face. This is to mean that the facial expressions are going to be directed to one side of the face. Such that, if the person uses mostly the left side of their face to indicate contempt, there are going to pull their mouth and lips to the left and the left eyelids are going to be pulled in (Humintell.com, 2016).
Joy is one of the most common emotions associated with the person having a good feeling. It is the emotion that has associated with feeling great pleasure and some element of happiness. The element of being positively excited is also associated with joyful emotion (Borges, 2013). The basic characterization include the muscles that are around the eyes tightening and wrinkles form around the eyes. Ideally the cheeks are also raised and the corners of the lips tend to be raised diagonally.
One of the emotions that could be considered to be the opposite of the joy emotions is sadness. This is an emotions that is associated with feeling sorrow, misery, despair, gloom, grief, woe or melancholy among others (Humintell.com, 2016). This is an emotion that is characterized by the inner corners of eyebrows raised and the eyelids tend to be loose, while the lip corners are pulled down. This is also a universal emotion like the rest where everyone tends to experience it at one time or the other in their life or even severally in a day.
The last but not least of the basic emotions is surprise. This is an emotions that is associated with expressing the aspect of encountering events that were unexpected. If one comes across an event, thing or fact that they had not expected it tends to shock them, this expression is underlined by the surprise emotion (Black, 2016). The basic characterization that is associated with the surprise emotion includes the entire eyebrows being pulled up, the eyelids being pulled up and the mouth tends to hang open. Such that one is going to have their eyes wide open along with their mouth (Humintell.com, 2016).
Human Emotions: Genetic Verses Socially Acquired
One of the basic attribute that can be established with respect to human emotions is that, they tend to be quite universal. This is with the exception of the persons that can be considered psychologically challenged, such as persons that are medically determined to be sociopaths or psychopaths. As such, emotions such as joy and sadness are seen to be exhibited by all the persons across geographical boundaries, racial and religious factions among others (Burrowes, 2014). This also means that, when one person is angry, they are easily by the rest of the people around them to be angry and happy. As such, there is an element of social code that is associated with emotions (Borges, 2013). In some of the cases, however, there are elements of human emotions that tend to have some element of heredity. The emotion such as fear, is largely associated with survival instincts. Ideally, when one id threatened in their environment, they tend to choose between fight and fright. The fright element is associated with the brain signaling the body to take cover since the danger is too great to handle. As such, there is an element survival associated with fear (Griffiths, 2009). Humans, tend to experience the emotion when they are face with an even, someone or something that threatens their existence. If one does not run from a situation which the brain has determined to be lethal or simply deadly, this could easily turn out to be dangerous and life threatening. As such, the element of fear is largely associated with the hereditary characteristics that are passed on over the years to help protect the genetic purity and continuity (Griffiths, 2009).
‘Recent philosophical analyses of the innate/acquired distinction can be classified into four types. The first identifies innate traits with those characteristic of an entire species and acquired traits with those that vary between populations and individuals. A second type of analysis identifies innate traits with those that can be explained by natural selection. The third, and currently most influential, distinguishes different patterns of interaction between genes and environment and identifies one pattern with the innate and another with the acquired. A fourth, quite different, type of analysis suggests that labeling a trait ‘innate’ is a way to indicate that it lies outside the domain of psychology.’ (Griffiths, 2009)
As stated in the extract, are four categories that can be used to establish what characteristics of an emotion or even a general trait are considered to be innate; first there are those that vary between populations, those that can be explained by natural selection, those that can be produced through the interactions of the genes and the environment and lastly those that can be categorized as lyi...