Final answer:
Emotions, as defined by psychologists, are triggered by internal or external events, involve physiological responses and conscious feelings, and are relatively brief. They sometimes occur for no specific reason and often result in behavior changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Properties of Emotion
Psychologists define emotion as a complex experience that encompasses a few key properties. These include being triggered by specific internal or external events, often beginning with a subjective experience that can be stirred by thoughts or external stimuli. Emotions involve physiological responses such as changes in heart rate and sweating, indicating that they have a physical aspect. Additionally, they involve conscious feelings and cognitive appraisal, which is the process by analyzing how an event affects us individually. Emotions are also relatively brief, occurring over a short timespan, and can occur rapidly. They can sometimes occur for no specific reason, reflecting the spontaneity of emotional responses.
However, emotions are distinct from moods, which tend to last longer and do not necessarily have a specific trigger. Therefore, while moods can last for hours or days and do not involve conscious feelings to the same extent, emotions are more fleeting and typically tied to conscious experiences. Also, emotions often involve changes in behavior as a response to the emotional experience, such as withdrawing from a threat or approaching something desirable.