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Emotion As A Way of Knowing Worksheet

The document discusses Robert Plutchik's psycho-evolutionary theory of emotions, which identified eight basic emotions (joy, acceptance, anticipation, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anger) that combine to form more advanced emotions. It also examines the relationship between emotions and knowledge, debates whether emotions are rational or irrational, and explores why it can be difficult to explain the reasons for liking certain films, music or books.

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153 views

Emotion As A Way of Knowing Worksheet

The document discusses Robert Plutchik's psycho-evolutionary theory of emotions, which identified eight basic emotions (joy, acceptance, anticipation, fear, sadness, disgust, surprise, anger) that combine to form more advanced emotions. It also examines the relationship between emotions and knowledge, debates whether emotions are rational or irrational, and explores why it can be difficult to explain the reasons for liking certain films, music or books.

Uploaded by

blewia
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Emotion as a way of knowing Name:

The social psychologist Robert Plutchik developed the psycho-evolutionary theory of emotion. This
theory identified eight basic emotions that exist in a symbiotic relationship. The four basic emotions that
all humans have are joy, acceptance, anticipation and fear. Try and identify the opposite emotion and
write your answer in the space below. The first one is done for you.

Basic Emotion Basic Opposite


Joy Sadness
Acceptance
Anticipation
Fear

Identify the reasons for your selection in the space below.

Plutchik argued that advanced emotions occur when 2 basic emotions combine. Can you work out which
which 2 basic emotions might combine to make an advanced one?

Basic Emotion + Basic Emotion = Advanced Emotion


+ = Optimism
+ = Love
+ = Submission
+ = Awe
+ = Disappointment
+ = Remorse
+ = Aggression
+ = Contempt

What do you think about this theory?


The scientist Edward O Wilson defines emotion as ‘the modification of neural activity that animates and
focuses mental activity’. This appears biologically and scientifically correct but also seems entirely to miss
the point – the personal experience of emotion. To describe emotion in this manner is akin to describing
music as an organized collection of vibrations at different frequencies.

The simplistic interpretations of emotions and their role in knowledge are that they are hot, urgent
impulses that come from the body contrasting with the cool, reflective analysis and logic that arises from
the use of reason.

But are the two so distinct and separate?

Write down an experience that stimulated strong emotions within you. Address the following questions:
What were the emotional ‘triggers’? What emotions did you feel? Were the feelings rational or irrational?
What did you know (K=JTB) during this event and how did you know it?

Why is it that notion of a reasonable man ‘giving way’ or ‘losing control’ to his emotions is a popular
theme in films and books, whereas the reverse seems dull and uninteresting? What does this say about
our popular culture?
To what extent do emotions control all human action?

Can emotions provide us with knowledge? If so, what kind of knowledge can they give us? If not, why not?

Based on your responses to these questions, do you think our emotions help or hinder the search for
knowledge?

4: Now write down a favorite movie, a favorite piece of music and a favorite book. For each one, try to
explain why you like it. Consider the language and words you use, carefully. Many people find this
extremely difficult. It is easy to identify films, music and books that we like but often very difficult to
explain why. We are often frustrated by the process or left feeling that have not adequately conveyed the
reasons for our likes or loves. Why do you think this is?

My favorite film
My favorite piece of music

My favorite book

Did you find it easy to identify your feelings about your favorite things?

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