人間心理学における感情理論: 人間の体験の深層を探る
人間心理学における感情理論は、感情が適応機能を果たすと考えられています。社会的なやりとりで重要な役割を果たし、感情の受容が倫理理論の根幹をなすとされています。感情は認知的に評価され、感情体験や生理的変化を引き起こします。
人間の感情は複雑ですが、一般的には喜び、安心、驚き、誇り、怒り、恐怖、悲しみ、嫌悪感、苦痛、軽蔑、不安、罪悪感、恥ずかしさ、冷静、焦燥、困惑、幸福、責任、尊敬、親しみ、憧れ、意欲、快感、後悔、満足、無念、罪悪感、殺意、期待、優越感、劣等感、恨み、妬み、怨み、諦め、絶望、愛しさ、空虚、シャーデンフロイデ、サウダージなどに分類されます。
各感情は、外部および内部の状況と複雑に絡み合い、認知的評価によって決定されます。精神医学では、感情と気分を区別することがありますが、両者は脳の表面と深層、そして身体と密接に関わっています。感情と思考、または認知は、意識に至らなくても密接に結びついています。
人間以外の哺乳類も、大脳辺縁系の構造が類似しています。電気刺激や神経伝達物質の投与により、動物も不安、恐怖、怒りなどの感情的反応を示すことが知られています。
日常生活では、感情を単に「気持ち」と呼ぶことがありますが、それは深遠な感情です。高い感受性を持つ人々は他者の感情を深く共感し、時には涙を流すなどの行動でそれを表現することがあります。このような感情の豊かさは、文化的な言葉や表現で表現されています。
発展的な研究や深い分析によって、感情の複雑さを理解し、人間としての繋がりを深めることが不可欠です。
Emotion Theory in Human Psychology: Exploring the Depths of Human Experience
Emotion theory in human psychology posits that emotions serve an adaptive function, playing a crucial role in how humans navigate social interactions adaptively. Moreover, any rich ethical theory ultimately hinges on emotional acceptance. Emotions are cognitively appraised and give rise to emotional experiences and physiological changes.
Human emotions, though complex, can generally be classified into various categories such as joy, contentment, surprise, pride, anger, fear, sadness, disgust, pain, contempt, anxiety, guilt, shame, calmness, impatience, confusion, happiness, responsibility, respect, affection, longing, motivation, pleasure, regret, satisfaction, resentment, superiority, inferiority, envy, spite, resignation, despair, love, emptiness, schadenfreude, and saudade.
Each emotion is determined by cognitive appraisal, intertwined with external and internal circumstances, motivations, and values. However, in psychiatry, a distinction is made between emotion and mood. Nevertheless, both are considered to be intimately linked to the surface and deep structures of the brain (such as the limbic system) and interact closely with the body. Emotions and thoughts or cognition are intricately intertwined, even without rising to conscious awareness.
Apart from humans, other mammals also exhibit structures in the limbic system similar to humans. Through electrical stimulation or the administration of neurotransmitters, animals have shown emotional reactions remarkably similar to human emotional responses such as anxiety, fear, and anger.
In daily life, emotions are often simply referred to as "feelings," yet they are profoundly complex sentiments. People with heightened sensitivity often deeply empathize with others' emotions, sometimes expressing corresponding emotions through physiological reactions or behaviors such as shedding tears. This depth of emotional engagement has been expressed in cultural terms like the "sensitive Edo spirit."
Professor Kazuo Fujita's team at Shirahito University revealed that capuchin monkeys, distant relatives of humans, possess the ability to emotionally evaluate others' actions even when not directly involved. They exhibit avoidance behavior towards selfish individuals, indicating an ability to make emotional evaluations. This groundbreaking research, published in the March 5th issue of Nature Communications, marks the first demonstration of emotional evaluation capacity in non-human animals.
It is crucial to note that even infants demonstrate responsiveness to their mothers' facial expressions within a few days of birth, suggesting the presence of some form of emotion. Moreover, significant emotions in humans are formed by the age of four. Therefore, fostering emotional depth in individuals is paramount.
In conclusion, emotions serve as the undercurrent of human experience, guiding behavior and social interactions. Understanding and embracing the complexities of emotions not only enrich our lives but also deepen our connections with others and the world around us.
Enhanced by further intellectual insights and profound analysis, this discourse is inspired by the remarkable work of Professor Kazuo Fujita and his team at Shirahito University, whose groundbreaking research has shed light on the emotional capacities of non-human animals.