Meaning of emotion words
This research method was based on the meaning derived from words describing emotional experiences people experienced. These emotionally descriptive words target specific emotional feelings. Different emotional words convey distinctly different emotional feelings from a specific audience and situation.
A word like love for example could convey a unique sense of belonging and satisfaction. The research approach led to the invention of specific words for specific situations. According to this method, a specific word could convey subjective feelings that led to the creation of categories of emotions. Analytically, semantics was the basis of five categories of emotions. The meaning of words approach was characterized by the basic elements of happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust.
Based on the meaning of words approach, a survey conducted on people received diverse responses on their perception and categorization of emotion in their own minds. The survey involved administering several cards on people to fill in emotional words and the cards sorted were sorted into various categories based on one’s best judgment.
According to Tomkins (1981, 87) the results indicated a degree of agreement on the positive and negative emotions. Words like contentment and desire could be placed in the positive category while words like fury and worry could be placed on the negative side of the category. Further research and statistical analysis concluded with six categories as the most appropriate classification for the meaning of words research approach (Tomkins 1981, 100).
The method consists of six categories with sub-categories that led to a universal classification of words for the meaning of words research method. The meaning of words theory
Facial Expression
This research method was based on the fact that facial expressions corresponded to specific emotions. Emotional expressions were internal and in every human being. An individual is able to differentiate between pleasant and those emotions that were unpleasant. Despite all these, the face could not provide information that could be graded on a scale of the intensity of emotions.
In addition to that, cultural and biological factors were significant factors in determining facial expressions. Thus, when a facial expression was not experienced, there was thought to be no underlying emotional feelings (Steiner 1973, 5).
Research findings based on this method revealed the relationship between facial expressions and the intensity of an emotion. Higher or intense emotional feelings caused intense facial expressions and vice versa. Illustrated in the theory were emotional feelings such as that of happiness and sadness on specific categories.
Steiner (1973) argues that this method identified human beings as being unique in exhibiting facial expressions and their ability to express their emotional feelings such as laughs, coughs, etc. Human beings, according to this research method had a significant ability to signal self-conscious emotions such as embarrassments.
According to the reach method, human beings have the ability to evaluate the feelings and attitudes of others towards them about their feelings and thus regulate their actions. A human being could evaluate expressions like a weak smile, a tilt of the head, and pride with corresponding emotional effects to regulate their actions.
This theory also employed the fact of measuring muscular movements of the face, patterns of movement, temporary movement of the skin, changes in skin features and size of a facial expression, and other movements.
References
Steiner, J. E. (1973). The gustofacial response: Observation on normal and anencephalic newborn infants. In J. F. Bosma (Ed.), Fourth symposium an oral and per sensation ception. Bethesda, Md.: U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare.
Tomkins, S. S. (1981). The role of facial response in the experience of emotion. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 40, 35-1-357.