Emotions and reasoning

In 1889, Vincent Van Gogh once said, â€Å"Let’s not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it (Carnegie 2003 p. 298). The stereotype assumption held for long by the rationalists was that reason and perception are the only reliable ways through which we acquire knowledge.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Emotions and reasoning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Emotion was thought to hamper decision making as it created confusion and hindered objectivity. Emotions were believed to be disorderly powers capable of interfering drastically with sensible thinking. Thus, it was believed that in order to arrive at lucid judgments, emotions should be completely separated from the process. Focus was more on cognition and logic (Bernstone et al. 1993). This paper seeks to determine how emotions help influence the actions we make through analytical thinkin g. It seeks to assert that judgment does not abound in isolation. Rather that it is arrived at by people who not only reason but also feel. It seeks to highlight the role played by emotion in our day to day judgments and to ascertain the fact that our decision making processes are highly influenced by our emotional disposition. As Dale Carnegie sums it up, we are not creations of reason but of conscience (Carnegie 2003 p. 298). Yet time after time, we encounter situations in which even the most rational beings make decisions whose nature defeats all logic. What makes people inexplicably fall in love with one person over another? How do we explain when a man of sound mind engages in sexual crimes like rape? While some may attribute this behavior insanity, personal preference, circumstances or provocation, the underlying fact remains that these two categories of people are never forced at gun point to do what they do or act as they do. If it were all about reason, then the people have the mental capacity to stop themselves from falling in love or committing these crimes. The belief by rationalists failed to hail the fact that we are humans, thus emotional in nature and even the most ‘rational’ of all beings can err. They failed to accommodate the fact that emotions do play a role in the decision making process. Emotions are part of human nature as we all instinctively react to phenomena even without being conscious of the fact. That implies that, not all human actions are solely based on thinking and evaluating using our brains. Even without being conscious of it, our feelings do affect the way we perceive things around us (Ansoff, 1965).Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More As human beings, we experience sensations that vary in degree or perception. Nevertheless, we could be unaware of those feelings or how to interpret them. This is largely because some feelings are hard to observe and interpret. However, emotions affect the way we think much as they may not be perceived to directly influence behavior and the way we act towards others. The word emotion refers to powerful or compelling sensation or attitude geared towards something or someone. It is commonly connected with mood, individuality, predispositions, temperament and provocation (Plutchik, 1980). came up with a classification of emotions which was made up of eight progressive emotions and their basic ones. Among the major basic emotions according to him are happiness, confidence or trust, fear, wonder or astonishment, sadness, repugnance, ire and expectancy. These emotions coexist in opposites. Feelings like love, disappointment, aggressiveness, guilt, optimism, contempt, awe, remorse and their opposites arise from the basic emotions. (Parrot 2001) further created a tree structured inventory of emotions in which primary emotions like love, joy and anger give rise to second ary emotions or feelings which ultimately give rise to tertiary feelings. For instance love as a basic emotion gives rise to affection, lust or sexual desire, longing, cheerfulness, zest and contentment from which other feelings like attraction, adoration, passion, infatuation, jubilation, euphoria, excitement, and enthusiasm and pleasure spring. Anger may cause disgust, envy, torment, suffering, sadness and disappointment. These feelings may result in loathing, envy, torment, agony, despair, grief, disappointment, shame, remorse, loneliness and humiliation. Emotions can therefore be classified into two; positive and negative emotions. Positive emotions attempt or intend to consider the whole in decision making to make things better while negative emotions tend to exclude, set aside and destroy. The feeling is enhanced more by fear. However, we experience fewer positive emotions compared to the negative ones. This is mostly due to the fact that most feelings are geared towards self preservation. They warn us and make us act by avoiding others, steering away and retaliating. Damasio (1994) in Descartes Error establishes that feelings do enhance rational acts in instances where there is indecision. He illustrates that failure to make correct decisions in patients with brain problems was as a result of lack of emotions.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Emotions and reasoning specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Emotions enable us desist from choices that may probably result in problems as we have a particular sensation that there is something about the option that does not sound right. In the absence of this feeling, one may not be aware that something is not right about the choice or may end up being vague or take a long time to come to a decision. Emotions affect the way people perceive things and even enable them become better informed. Negative feelings prompt people to reconsider themselves a nd the poor choices they make and this helps them determine ways to avoid them in the future. For instance a teenager who follows her whims and ends up engaging in damaging behavior like drug abuse or early sex and suffers the consequences is in a better position to learn to contain her impulses and consequently avoid repeating the same. Emotion assist individuals undertake counterfactual thinking. According to Roese (2000, p.62) wishful thinking, resulting from poor choices, enables individuals reflects on their choices and focus on the outcome of the decision they did not make. This process is crucial in reevaluating one’s mind and thus affects how they make their future judgments. In addition, emotion can be an integral part of indispensable knowledge about the universe. According to the Affect-as-information hypothesis, Clore, Gasper and Garvin (2001), human beings decide whether a thing is right or wrong by contemplating how they feel about it. Their final choice depends then on if they perceive the thing to be. For instance when confronted with a difficult situation like influence by peers to take drugs, an individual may ask himself or herself what they feel about the whole issue of substance abuse. If they feel it is wrong to do it, no matter the justifications to give in to the vice, the individual may choose not to do it and vice versa. In earlier research by Niedenthal, Halberstadt and Innes-Ker, (1999) as cited in Barrett (2002, p.168) demonstrated that emotions change the way people process knowledge as emotional people tend to look at the world in an emotional way. If someone is happy, they perceive the world in a positive way and if unhappy or sad, everything around them looks gloomy. Most of the times, people classify things by their feelings than by their implications. That may explain why people who are in love may not notice their partner’s faults or if they do, the fact becomes of little or no consequence.Advertising Looking for essay on psychology? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Through emotions, individuals can know beforehand their reactions to future phenomena and this prepares them on the appropriate course of action. An action in the past influences future reactions. People begin to channel their actions depending on how they anticipate to feel. They naturally begin steering away from actions that will ultimately cause them to feel bad or guilty and instead focus on those that will reward them. However, strong feelings can guide individuals to take part in risky or dangerous acts regardless of the consequences. Feelings such as sexual urges obstruct the ability to think straight. That explains why mentally stable men engage in sexual offenses like rape and incest (Barret, 2002). In addition, antagonistic feelings like guilt or fear affect normal behavior, the cognitive process, understanding and the ability to keep information. For instance the feelings that accompany the sexual act like anxiety of getting pregnant or being infected with disease fear o f the consequences and the guilt of having engaged in the act may affect the way people perceive family planning information and how they practice the concept. Depression can causes serious interference with the way people adapt to life after the feeling is through. Emotions make thinking easier as they compose the whole mechanism that assist people in the interpretation of the universe and how they behave towards it. Conclusion Emotion is complimentary to reasoning. They can enhance or undermine critical thinking as they play a big role in facilitating the way people think and ultimately make up their minds. Without emotions, people can still think and arrive at a decision but fail to decide the best decision. This view is supported by Baumister and Bushman (2007 p.205). Therefore we can conclude that arriving at judgments requires both use of the brain (reasoning) and emotions. Rational thinking assist in bringing forth ideas while feelings enable us decide the ultimate best cours e of action to pursue. Emotions help us differentiate between what is necessary and what is not. In cases when one does not have enough time to analyze the correct/rational thing to do, emotions swiftly give us the right course of action as they eliminate irrational ideas. Emotions ensure that we act in a manner that is consisted to reality and the consequences. Emotions help us think over our once ‘rational’ ideas by giving them more contemplation aside from the logical one. However, there is need to exercise control in order to enhance our thinking. Emotions should not be left to completely rule our judgments. Situations require that we be sober minded and as much as we at times cannot stop the emotions from coming, we nevertheless have the ability to choose those that are most beneficial to our wellbeing. As Martensson clearly states, in (Siraj and Zaibun, 2008 p.54), â€Å"Feelings are much like waves, we can’t stop them from coming but we can choose which o ne to surf.† List of References Ansoff, H.J., 1965. Corporate Strategy. New York: Harper Row. Barrett, L.F., 2002. The wisdom in feeling: psychological processes in emotional intelligence. New York: Guilford Press. Baumister, R.F.,Bushman, B.J., 2007. Social Psychology and Human Nature. Connecticut: Cengage Learning. Carnegie, D., Crom,J.R., Crom, M.A., Carnegie Associates, Inc. 2003. The Sales Advantage: How to Get It, Keep It, and Sell More Than Ever. New York: The Free Press. Clore, G.L., Gasper, K., Garvin, E. â€Å"Affect as Information.† In: J. P. Forgas ed. 2001. Handbook of Affect and Social Cognition Country New York: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. Damasio, A.R., 1994. Descartes’ error: emotion, reason, and the human brain. New York: G.P Putnam’s Sons. Parrott, W., 2001. Emotions in Social Psychology. Philadelphia: Psychology Press. Plutchik, R., 1980. A general psycho evolutionary theory of emotion. In: R. Plutchik H. Kellerman. eds. Emotio n: Theory, research, and experience: Vol. 1. Theories of emotion. (pp 3-33) New York: Academic. Roese,N.J., 2000. Counterfactual thinking . New Jersey: Wiley. Siraj,Z.N., Zaibun. H., 2008. Zany, Zeal, Zest and Zing: The Z Way to Happiness. Singapore: World Scientific. This essay on Emotions and reasoning was written and submitted by user Brenden Blackwell to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

Harry Davis Jr Essays - Sociology, Philosophy, Humanities

Harry Davis Jr Essays - Sociology, Philosophy, Humanities Harry Davis Jr Final Exam Dr. Thomas Emile Durkheim Emile Durkheim believed in functionalism which is the perspective that is largely based on the work of Durkheim. According to functionalism society is a system of interconnected parts that that work together in harmony to maintain a state of balance and social equilibrium. Functionalist emphasizes the interconnectedness of society by focusing on how each part can influence another. Division of Labor (mechanical solidarity, organic solidarity) Mechanical Solidarity- is the sense of togetherness in a society that arises when people, performing similar work, share similar experiences, customs, values, and beliefs. Sociologist Emile Durkheim coined the term in 1893 to explain what keeps some kinds of societies together, or put another way, why a society does not fragment. Durkheim says it connects the individual to society without any intermediary. Society is organized collectively and all members of group share the same belief. Organic Solidarity- Organic solidarity is social unity b ased on a division of labor that results in people depending on each other; it contrasts with mechanical solidarity. In sociology, organic solidarity explains what binds technologically advanced, industrialized societies together. Society is a system of different functions that are united by definite relationships. Karl Marx Karl Marx was raised by jews and converted to Luthernaism and he is also the founder of communism. Capitalism System of government is democratic, property is privately owned and driven by free enterprise. Wealth is distributed unevenly, education and health care provided by private entities. Freedom of the press Class distinctions: upper class, middle class and working class Focus is on the individual and his/her own progress in life. While communism is a system of government is totalitarian, property is owned by the state with no free enterprise is allowed. Wealth is distributed equally, education and health care provided by the state and press controlled and owned by the state classless society: all members of society are considered to be equal Focus is on the progress of the community as a whole. Karl Marx also believed in Marxism which is; the economic and political theory and practice originated by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels that holds that actions and human institutions are economically determined, that the class struggle is the basic agency of historical change, and that capitalism will ultimately be superseded by communism. Marx moral critique of capitalism began with his idea of alienation. The system of capitalism makes work become increasingly dehumanizing. Karl Marx was a philosopher who believed that capitalism was flawed and the socialist economic approaches would yield better results. Max Weber Max Weber is a German sociologist best known for his combining of economic sociology and the sociology of religion. He was associated with the rise in the Western Protestantism was one of the major elective affinities associated with the rise in western world of market, Max Weber was a strong beli ever in the sociological perspective which is the study of human life and social interactions as well as these interactions shape group and society as a whole. This perspective views society as a prouct created by humans that can be changed. He also came up with beaucracy which has six steps 1. A formal hierarchical structure " Each level controls the level below and is controlled by the level above. A formal hierarchy is the basis of central planning and centralized decision making. " 2. Management by rules " Controlling by rules allows decisions made at high levels to be executed consistently by all lower levels. " 3. Organ ization by functional spe cialty " Work is to be done by specialists, and people are organized into units based on the type of work they do or skills they have. " 4. An "up-f ocused" or "in-focused" mission " If the mission is described as "up-focused," then the organization's purpose is to serve the stockholders, the board, or whatever agency empowered it. " 5. Purposely impersona l " The idea is to treat all employees equally and customers equally, and not be influenced by individual differences. " 6. Employment ba sed on technical qualifications " The bureaucratic form, according to Parkinson, has another attribute. "

Paper review and research on the article The Nature of Love by Harry

Review and on the article The Nature of Love by Harry Harlow - Research Paper Example Through the rigorous study of the effects of separation and maternal care on infant monkeys, Harlow challenged many of the then established truths in psychology. a) Hypothesis Harlow’s (1958) hypothesis in this article is that "primary object-clinging," a need for intimate physical contact, which is initially associated with the mother† (p. 674) could be primary as opposite to the needs such as hunger and thirst. Further, the article attempts to examine the â€Å"relative importance of the stimulus variables determining the affectional or love responses in the neonatal and infant primate’ (Harlow, 1958, p. 674). b) Methods Harlow made the baby rhesus monkeys isolated from their mothers and they were given the choices of a two surrogate mothers, one made exclusively from terrycloth and the other from wire. Neonatal infant macaque monkey was used as the subject of Harlow’s research. Harlow’s team had three years of experience in working with rhesus mo nkeys. He used them for experiments as they mature more speedily than human infants but do not have much difference from the human infants in terms of â€Å"basic responses relating to affection, including nursing, contact, clinging, and even visual and auditory exploration† and more importantly, â€Å"the development of perception, fear, frustration, and learning capability follows very similar sequences in rhesus monkeys and human children† (ibid). The method of Harlow’s team involved the separation of infant monkeys from their mothers for definite times at definite intervals. For instance, they â€Å"had separated more than 60 of these animals from their mothers 6 to 12 hours after birth and suckled them on tiny Bottles† (Harlow, 1958, p. 674). The body of the surrogate mothers did not differ much â€Å"other than in the quality of the contact comfort which she can supply† (Harlow, 1958, p. 676). c) Results The result of the experiments was that the â€Å"bottle fed babies were healthier and heavier than monkey-mother-reared infants’ (Harlow, 1958, p. 675). It was mainly because of human scientists were more capable of feeding the infant monkey with better nutritious food and providing them with better care. More importantly, it was found that the â€Å"laboratory-raised babies showed strong attachment to the cloth pads (folded gauze diapers) which were used to cover the hardware-cloth floors of their cages. The infants clung to these pads and engaged in violent temper tantrums when the pads were removed and replaced for sanitary reasons† (ibid). It has also been discovered that â€Å"a baby monkey raised on a bare wire-mesh cage floor survives with difficulty, if at all, during the first five days of life† (ibid). d) Conclusions Therefore, the conclusion is that â€Å"the baby, human or monkey, if it is to survive, must clutch at more than a straw† (ibid). It has proved that â€Å"contact com fort might be a very important variable in the development of the infant's affection for the mother† (ibid). The experiments results lead us to the conclusion that â€Å"With age and opportunity to learn, subjects with the lactating wire mother showed decreasing responsiveness to her and increasing responsiveness to the nonlactating cloth mother, a finding completely contrary to any interpretation of derived drive in which the mother form becomes conditioned to hunger-thirst reduction† (ibid, p. 676). The nursing variable, Harlow’