We talk a lot about emotions, but what exactly are emotions? Emotions are psychophysiological, cognitive and behavioral responses produced before an internal external event. These reactions are involuntary and of biological origin. Emotions are the internal engine that pushes us to live, or rather to survive, since the main function of emotions is to ensure our survival. The part of the brain responsible for producing these reactions is the limbic system.
Each emotion is different, but we can differentiate two main types of emotions: positive and negative emotions. Emotions are divided into positive and negative depending on whether they feel pleasant or unpleasant. However, all emotions are necessary and the most important thing is to listen to them and know how to understand them, something that is not so easy with emotions considered negative. Therefore, in this Psychology-Online article, we will focus on some negative emotions: fear and anxiety. In this article you will find out what negative emotions are, what they are and how they are controlled.
What are negative emotions
First of all, it is necessary to clarify that the division between is a popular classification and that it is correct to talk about adaptive and maladaptive emotions. It is important to know that there are no good or bad emotions, but that all emotions are, above all, necessary to survive. Emotions work like compasses guiding us towards what is best for us or our survival. Therefore, all emotions can help us adapt to the situations and needs of each moment. All emotions, also those considered negative emotions, consist of a survival mechanism. Each emotion has its function and it is essential to listen to the emotion and understand it.
Once the topic of negative and positive emotions has been introduced, let’s see what negative emotions are. Those considered negative emotions They are what give us an unpleasant sensation or negative feeling. Why do they give us an unpleasant sensation? To tell us that the situation we are facing has some danger, risk or challenge for us and invites us to have a behavior adapted to the needs of the situation. For example, if we are facing a difficult exam and we feel afraid, it is totally normal, adaptive and good for us, because in this way we know that we are facing a complicated situation, which is challenging. Fear makes us more prudent and cautious, alert to details. This will translate into our behavior, causing us to give the exam the importance it deserves, dedicate more time to studying and pay close attention during the exam.
What are negative emotions
Among those considered negative emotions there are basic or primary emotions and secondary or complex emotions.
The considered basic negative emotions are sadness, disgust, fear and anger. On the other hand, those considered secondary negative emotions or negative feelings are:
- Loneliness
- Despair
- Culpability
- Indifference
- Apathy
- Empty
- Melancholia
- Shame
- Repentance
- Disappointment
- Aversion
- Humiliation
- Rejection
- Unsafety
- Anxiety
- Ridiculous
- Terror
- Burden
- Futility
- Insufficiency
- Worry
- Frustration
- Aggressiveness
- Hate
- Distrust
- Rage
- Hostility
- Rage
- Resentment
- Jealousy
- Grief
The fear
As we have seen, one of the considered negative emotions is fear. Next, we will delve into what fear is, what types of fear there are according to Rachman, what causes fear and how to overcome fear if it is not an appropriate reaction to the situation.
Definition of fear
It is one of those considered negative emotions. What is fear? Fear is a basic and universal emotion essential to ensure our survival that is activated by a stimulus that represents danger. Fear consists of a sign that warns that a danger or challenge is approachinga complex situation or something that can cause physical or psychological damage.
Types of fear
Canadian psychologist Stanley Rachman distinguishes between acute fear and chronic fear. Furthermore, fear can be adaptive or maladaptive.
- He acute fear It is provoked by tangible stimuli and decreases when the trigger disappears or is avoided. For example, being afraid when you see a snake.
- He chronic fear It is more complex in terms of the situations that trigger it, it may or may not be associated with tangible sources. For example, the fear of being alone.
- He adaptive or functional fear It is the one that adjusts to the stimulus that causes it. It is considered useful. For example, the fear you feel when you are on the edge of a cliff makes you move away and not be in danger of falling.
- He maladaptive or dysfunctional fear It is the one that does not adjust to the stimulus that causes it. It is considered harmful. For example, the fear of heights prevents you from taking planes, elevators, or going out to the terrace of a high floor.
What causes fear?
The main triggers of fear are the perception of harm or danger, both physical and psychological. Furthermore, through the conditioning process, originally neutral stimuli, which are repeatedly associated with signals of real harm, end up also producing an emotional response of fear. That is, although these stimuli are objectively harmless, they become new fear triggers specific to each person. This process may be adaptive and useful for survival, however, sometimes it produces fear reactions in situations without real or significant danger, giving rise to (irrational and persistent fears).
According to the American psychologist Richard Lazarus, when faced with an event what we do is analyze it and categorize it as a threat or non-threat to us. If we have categorized it as a threat, we proceed to assess whether we have the necessary coping strategies to deal with what the situation requires. If we believe not having the necessary resources to face a threatthe situation makes us afraid.
Another factor that influences is making an assessment in which it is estimated that one has a low capacity for control and future prediction of the situation. That is, you feel the emotion of fear when you believe unable to control or predict what will happen.
Effects and symptoms of fear
Fear is one of the most intense and unpleasant emotions that exist. The subjective effects of fear are apprehension, restlessness and discomfort. Its main characteristic is the sensation of nervous tension and worry for one’s own safety or health, usually accompanied by the feeling of loss of control.
The physiological effects of fear are the following:
- Incrise of cardiac frecuency
- Increased systolic and diastolic blood pressure
- Increased cardiac contractile force
- Reduction in blood volume and peripheral temperature (which causes the paleness and coldness of the typical fear reaction of “freezing”)
- Increased muscle tension
- Increased respiratory rate (artificial and irregular breathing)
- Stiff feeling
The anxiety
Below we will delve into what anxiety is, the types of anxiety and the effects and symptoms of anxiety.
Definition of anxiety
Anxiety is one of the considered negative emotions. What is anxiety? The is a state of agitation and restlessness, similar to that produced by fear, but lacking a specific triggering stimulus, although sometimes it is associated with specific stimuli, as is the case with social anxiety. The distinction between anxiety and fear is that the fear reaction occurs in the face of real danger and the reaction is proportionate to it, while anxiety is disproportionately intense. Furthermore, no dangerous stimuli are physically present.
Anxiety can lead to psychopathological disorders called anxiety disorders, like the phobia or phobias. These are related to an excessive and inappropriate fear reaction. Anxiety is the reaction that produces the greatest number of mental, behavioral and psychophysiological disorders.
Types of anxiety
There are two types of anxiety reactions:
- The specific anxiety: it is provoked by a specific stimulus that may be real or symbolic, but is neither present nor imminent.
- The nonspecific anxiety: it is not associated with specific stimuli.
What causes anxiety?
The origin of anxiety depends on multiple factors that are related to each other. The main factors are:
- The . Depending on personality traits, a person may have a greater or lesser predisposition to anxiety.
- Receiving an over-protective educational style.
- Experiencing traumatic events or unpleasant experiences.
- Seeing traumatic events or unpleasant experiences experienced by other people.
Anxiety triggers are not stimuli that can directly harm the person, but are learned reactions of threat, and are determined by personal characteristics. Therefore, anxiety originates and is maintained, to a large extent, by the effect of learning. According to psychologist Stanley Rachman, expectations of danger can be generated through three different learning processes:
- : When a neutral stimulus is associated with a stimulus that generates fear, the neutral stimulus can end up generating anxiety.
- : when you observe other people and learn from their behavior and the events that happen to them.
- Transmission of information that contributes to the emergence of expectations of danger.
For anxiety to arise, situations must be assessed as very important for the person’s physical and mental well-being and contrary to the goals that the person intends to achieve. They are also considered difficult to face, since they depend on something external. It is also appreciated that in this situation, a certain degree of urgency is necessary in acting.
In the case of pathological anxiety, the mere memory of unpleasant situations or simply thinking about the future with a certain fear are typical triggers for these reactions.
Effects and symptoms of anxiety
The subjective effects and symptoms of anxiety are: tension, nervousness, discomfort, worry, apprehension and it can even lead to feelings of dread or panic, difficulties maintaining attention and concentration, along with intrusive thoughts.
Regarding the physiological activity of anxiety, the physiological effects are similar to those produced by fear, although less intense. Anxiety also produces pupil dilation and increased sweating. There is also an important increased adrenal activity, which increases the secretion of adrenaline and norepinephrine and reduces catecholamine levels. It also increases the secretion of carbohydrates and lipids into the blood flow.
All these changes in physiological activity can be so marked that they cause the person to perceive them, that is, they can produce sensations such as tachycardias,…