Emotion Social Science Flashcards
What is the central aim of studying emotions within social sciences?
To understand and provide data related to emotions in social contexts
How does psychology bridge natural and social sciences?
Psychology combines the study of humans as biological beings (natural sciences: brainwaves, memories, affects) and as cultural beings (social sciences: subjective experiences, societal meanings)
“Human beings are both natural and spiritual beings, a ‘double-being.’” (Walach, 2009)
According to Freud, what are the three domains of mental life?
The Conscious (EGO)
The Preconscious (SUPEREGO,: values, beliefs…)
The Unconscious (ID: channels libido impulses)
“The mind is like an iceberg; it floats with one-seventh of its bulk above water.” (Freud, 1917)
What role does the ego play in Freud’s psychoanalytic theory?
The ego operates on the reality principle (opposed to the pleasure principle) mediating between the id’s impulses and the superego’s moral standards to reduce tension and anxiety
How does Freud define an affect in dynamic terms?
Affect includes motor discharges (release of energy trough physical means, e.g. fidgeting) and feelings of pleasure or unpleasure, arising from instinctual drives and their gratification or lack thereof
What is the significance of repression in Freud’s theory of emotions?
Repression transforms unprocessed emotions like anxiety or guilt into different expressions (ego defenses) influencing ego and superego development
How does social science differ in its study of emotions compared to natural science?
Social science focuses itself on cultural vocabularies and how social structures impact emotions,
while natural science analyses their biological factors
How does culture influence emotional responses (according to Gordon in Social constructionism & emotions, 1990)?
Culture provides the vocabulary and context to label and interpret internal sensations, giving emotions their social meaning
How are emotions connected to rational decision-making?
Emotions guide decisions by motivating actions with anticipated emotional outcomes, balancing rationality and emotional influence
“Emotion as ‘force’ keeps human behavior on track, shaping rational choices.” (Turner & Stets, 2005)
How does sociology view emotions as social objects?
emotions as influenced by culture and society, emphasize collective ways of acting and cultural norms
What are the key concepts in studying emotions as highlighted in the slide?
Psychology as Both Natural and Social Science: Emotions are explored through biological and cultural lenses
Freud: Explains emotions like anxiety and guilt through unconscious processes, repression, and ego dynamics
Sociological & Cultural Perspective Views emotions as influenced by macro-structures like cultural constructs, society, and environmental interconnections
