Final answer:
Emotions are subjective experiences that consist of physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal. They can be managed and regulated through metacognition and automatic emotion regulation (AER). Various theories, such as the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, and the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory, explain our emotional experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Emotions are subjective experiences that consist of physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal. Various theories have been put forward to explain our emotional experiences. The James-Lange theory asserts that emotions arise as a function of physiological arousal. The Cannon-Bard theory maintains that emotional experience occurs simultaneous to and independent of physiological arousal. The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory suggests that physiological arousal receives cognitive labels as a function of the relevant context and that these two factors together result in an emotional experience.
Emotions can be neither 'good' nor 'bad'; they just 'are'. They are subjective states of being that we often describe as our feelings. Emotions result from the combination of subjective experience, expression, cognitive appraisal, and physiological responses. However, emotions can be managed and regulated. To respond to strong emotions, one can use metacognition to reflect on the source of those emotions and attempt to manage them. Automatic emotion regulation (AER) refers to the non-deliberate control of emotions, such as not reacting with emotions. AER can affect all aspects of emotional processes, including attention, appraisal, choice to engage in an emotional experience, and behaviors after an emotion is experienced. Even though we constantly regulate our emotions, much of the regulation occurs without us actively thinking about it.