Final answer:
An emotion is a subjective experience that includes five main elements: subjective experience, emotional expression, cognitive appraisal, physiological responses, and stimuli that can be external or internal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Five Elements of Emotion
Emotions are a complex part of human psychology, involving various components that interact with each other to create the full emotional experience. While there are several theories of emotion, one common way to understand an emotion involves the following five elements:
- Subjective Experience: The personal, internal experience of an emotion that is unique to the individual.
- Emotional Expression: The external display of emotion, which includes both nonverbal and verbal behaviors.
- Cognitive Appraisal: The personal interpretation and significance of a situation that contributes to the emotional response.
- Physiological Responses: The biological reactions that occur in response to an emotion, such as changes in heart rate or sweating.
- External or Internal Stimuli: Events or thoughts that trigger emotional responses, whether they occur in the outside world or within oneself.
These elements are informed by an individual's experiences, background, and culture, which is why people can have different emotional experiences even when facing similar circumstances.