Skip to main content

A State-Based Approach to the Role of Effort in Experience of Emotions

  • Chapter
Cognitive Perspectives on Emotion and Motivation

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASID,volume 44))

Abstract

Phenomenology, structuralism and cybernetics have contributed to the present perspective on modes of consciousness that act as moderators upon the relations between emotions, motivation and cognition. In this chapter, a set of principles is proposed to account for the experience of emotions, for individual differences in emotional experience, and for seemingly paradoxical changes of emotional experiences in one individual over time. In this way the approach is different from that of Ekman and Friesen (1986) who proposed that emotions can be distinguished from moods by virtue of their signal characteristics. This is not to deny pan-cultural signal specificity of facial expression of anger, fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, and happiness (possibly also of contempt), or to downgrade the possibility of so-called preparedness in responses to some affective facial displays (see, e.g., Dimberg, 1986; Öhman, this volume).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Apter, M.J. (1981a). On the concept of bistability.International Journal of General Systems, 6, 225–232.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J. (1981b). The possibility of a structural phenomenology: The case of reversal theory. Journal of Phenomenological Psychology, 12, 173–187.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J. (1982). The experience of motivation: The theory of psychological reversals. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J. (1984). Reversal theory and personality: A review. Journal of Research in Personality, 18, 265–288.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J. (in press). Reversal theory and the structure of emotional experience. In CD. Spielberger, Z. Kulcsar & J. Strelau (Eds.), Stress and emotion (Vol. 13). New York: Hemisphere/McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J., & Smith, K.C.P. (1985). Experiencing personal relationships. In M.J. Apter, D. Fontana & S. Murgatroyd (Eds.), Reversal theory: Applications and developments. Cardiff: University College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J., & Svebak, S. (in press-a). Reversal theory as a biological approach to individual differences. In A. Gale & M.W. Eysenck (Eds.), Handbook of individual differences: Biological perspectives. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Apter, M.J., & Svebak, S. (in press-b). Stress from the reversal theory perspective. In C.D. Spielberger & J. Strelau (Eds.), Stress and anxiety (Vol. 12). New York: Hemisphere/McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ax, A.F. (1953). The physiological differentiation between fear and anger in humans. Psychosomatic Medicine, 15, 433–442.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Social foundations of thought and action: A social cognitive theory. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellack, A.S., Hersen, M., & Kazdin, A.E. (Eds.).(1982). International handbook of behavior modification and therapy. New York: Plenum, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blackburn, R. (1987). Two scales for the assessment of personality disorder in antisocial populations. Personality and Individual Differences, 8, 81–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buller, R., Maier, W., & Benert, O. (1986). Clinical subtypes in panic disorder: Their descriptive and prospective validity. Journal of Affective Disorders, 11, 105–114.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cannon, W.B. (1927). The James-Lange theory of emotions: A critical examination and an alternative theory. American Journal of Psychology, 39, 106–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cappell, H. (1975). An evaluation of tension models of alcohol consumption. In J. Gibbins, Y. Israel, H. Kalant, R.E. Popham, W. Smidt, & R.G. Smart (Eds.), Research advances in alcohol and drug problems (Vol. 2). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimberg, U. (1986). Facial reactions to fear-relevant and fear-irrelevant stimuli. Biological Psychology, 23, 153–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duffy, E. (1957). The psychological significance of the concept of ‘arousal’ or ‘activation’. Psychological Review, 64, 265–275.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ekman, P., & Friesen, W.V. (1986). A new pan-cultural facial expression of emotion. Motivation and Emotion, 10, 159–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Endler, N.S., & Edwards, J. (1982). Stress and personality. In L. Goldberger & S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress research: Theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel, G.L., & Schmale, A.H. (1967). Psychoanalytic theory of somatic disorder. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 15, 344–362.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H.J. (1967). The biological basis of personality. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C. Thomas.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eysenck, H.J. (1982). A psychological theory of hysteria. In A. Roy (Ed.), Hysteria. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., & Lazarus, R.S. (1985). If it changes it must be a process: A study of emotion and coping during three stages of a college exam. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48, 150–170.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Folkman, S., Schaffer, C, & Lazarus, R.S. (1979). Cognitive processes as mediators of stress and coping. In V. Hamilton & D.M. Warburton (Eds.), Human stress and cognition: An information-processing approach. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontana, D. (1981). Obsessionality and reversal theory. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 20, 299–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garmezy, N. (1983). Stressors of childhood. In N. Garmezy & M. Rutter (Eds.), Stress, coping and development in children. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, V. (1982). Cognition and stress: An information processing model. In L. Goldberger & S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress research: Theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, V. (1983). The cognitive structures and processes of human motivation and personality. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, V., & Warburton, D.M. (Eds.).(1979). Human stress and cognition: An information processing approach. Chichester: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hockey, G.R.J., Coles, M.G.H., & Gaillard, A.W.K. (1986). Energetical issues in research on human information processing. In G.R.J. Hockey, M.G.H. Gaillard, & M.G.H. Coles (Eds.), Energetics and human information processing. Dordrecht: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holroyd, K.A., & Lazarus, R.S. (1982). Stress, coping and somatic adaptation. In L. Goldberger & S. Breznitz (Eds.), Handbook of stress research: Theoretical and clinical aspects. New York: Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. (in press). Telic dominance, personality and coping. In M.J. Apter, J. Kerr & M. Cowles (Eds.), Progress in reversal theory (Advances in psychology). Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izard, C.E. (1977). Human emotions. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones, M.M. (1980). Conversion reaction: Anachronism or evolutionary form? A review of the neurologic behavioral and psychoanalytic literature. Psychological Bulletin, 3, 427–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, J. (1985). A new perspective for sports psychology. In M.J. Apter, D. Fontana & S. Murgatroyd (Eds.), Reversal theory: Applications and developments. Cardiff: University College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kliewer, W., & Weidner, G. (1987). Type A behavior and aspirations: A study of parents’ and children’s goal setting. Developmental Psychology, 23, 204–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolb, D.A., Rubin, I.M., & McIntyre, J.M. (1984). Organizational psychology: An experiential approach to organizational behavior. New York: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lang, P.J. (1979). A bio-informational theory of emotional imagery. Psychophysiology, 16, 495–512.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindsley, D.B. (1952). Psychological phenomena and the electroencephalogram. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 4, 443–456.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, R.A., & Lefcourt, H.M. (1983). Sense of humor as a moderator of the relation between stressors and moods. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 45, 1313–1324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Malmo, R.B. (1957). Anxiety and behavioral arousal. Psychological Review, 64, 276–287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCrae, R.R. (1984). Situational determinants of coping responses: Loss, threat, and challenge. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 919–928.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McCranie, E.W., & Simpson, M.E. (1986). Parental child-rearing antecedents of Type A behavior. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 12, 493–501.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDougall, W. (1923). An outline of psychology. London: Methuen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S., & Seligman, M.E.P. (1982). The reformulated model of helplessness and depression: Evidence and theory. In R.W.J. Neufeld (Ed.), Psychological stress and psychopathology. New York: McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Molen, P.P. (1984). Bi-stability of emotions and motivations: An evolutionary consequence of the open-ended capacity for learning. Acta Biotheoretica, 33, 227–251.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moruzzi, G., & Magoun, H.W. (1949). Brain stem reticular formation and activation of the EEG. Electroencephalography and Clinical Neurophysiology, 1, 455–473.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Murgatroyd, S. (1985). Introduction to reversal theory. In M.J. Apter, D. Fontana, & S. Murgatroyd (Eds.), Reversal theory: Applications and developments. Cardiff: University College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Obrist, P.A., Gaebelein, C.J., Teller, E.S., Langer, A.W., Grignolo, A., Light, K.C., & McCubbin, J.A. (1978). The relationship among heart rate, carotid dp/dt and blood pressure in humans as a function of the type of stress. Psychophysiology, 15, 102–115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman, R. (1979). Memory load and event rate control sensitivity decrements in sustained attention. Science, 205, 924–927.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Plutchik, R. (1962). The emotions: Facts, theories and a new model. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Plutchik, R. (1980). A general psychoevolutionary theory of emotion. In R. Plutchik & H. Kellerman (Eds.), Emotion: Theory, research, and experience, Volume 1. Theories of emotion. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rescorla, R.A. (1987). A Pavlovian analysis of goal-directed behavior. American Psychologist, 42, 119–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rimehaug, T., & Svebak, S. (1987). Psychogenic muscle tension: The significance of motivation and negative affect in perceptual-cognitive task performance. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 5, 97–106.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S. (1964). The interaction of cognitive and physiological determinants of emotional state. In P.H. Leidermann & D. Shapiro (Eds.), Psychobiological approaches to social behavior. Stanford: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schachter, S., & Singer, J. (1962). Cognitive, social and physiological determinants of emotional state. Psychological Review, 69, 378–399.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schlosberg, H. (1952). The description of facial expressions in terms of two dimensions. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 44, 229–237.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schwartz, G.E., Fair, P.L., Salt, P., Mandel, M.R., & Klerman, G.L. (1976). Facial expression in depression: An electromyographic study. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38, 337–347.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Selye, H. (1976). The stress of life. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shinn, M., Rosario, M., Mørch, H., & Chestnut, D.E. (1984). Coping with job stress and burnout in the human services. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 46, 864–876.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger, C.D. (1972). Anxiety as an emotional state. In C.D. Spielberger (Ed.), Anxiety: Current trends in theory and research. New York: Acadeamic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strelau, J. (1983). Temperament, personality, activity. London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S. (1984). Active and passive forearm flexor tension patterns in the continuous perceptual-motor task paradigm: The significance of motivation. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 2, 167–176.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S. (1985). Psychophysiology and the paradoxes of felt arousal. In M.J. Apter, D. Fontana & S. Murgatroyd (Eds.), Reversal theory: Applications and developments. Cardiff. University College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S. (in press-a). The role of effort in stress and emotion. In CD. Spielberger, Z.Kulcsar & J. Strelau (Eds.), Stress and emotion (Vol. 13). New York: Hemisphere/McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S. (in press-b). Personality, stress and cardiovascular risk: A reversal theory perspective. In M.J. Apter, J. Kerr & M. Cowles (Eds.), Progress in reversal theory. (Advances in psychology). Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S., & Apter, M.J. (1984). Type A behavior and its relation to serious-mindedness (telic dominance). Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 25, 161–167.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S., & Apter, M.J. (in press). Laughter: An empirical test of some reversal theory hypotheses. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology.

    Google Scholar 

  • Svebak, S., & Stoyva, J. (1980). High arousal can be pleasant and exciting: The theory of psychological reversals. Journal of Biofeedback and Self-Regulation, 5, 439–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ursin, H., & Murison, R.C. (1983). The stress concept. In H. Ursin & R.C. Murison (Eds.), Biological and psychological basis of psychosomatic disease. Oxford: Pergamon Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, J., Apter, M.J., & Svebak, S. (1982). Colour preference, arousal and the theory of psychological reversals. Motivation and Emotion, 6, 193–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1979). Sensation seeking: Beyond the optimal level of arousal. Hillsdale. Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Svebak, S. (1988). A State-Based Approach to the Role of Effort in Experience of Emotions. In: Hamilton, V., Bower, G.H., Frijda, N.H. (eds) Cognitive Perspectives on Emotion and Motivation. NATO ASI Series, vol 44. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2792-6_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-2792-6_6

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7756-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-2792-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics