Psychiatry
Dr. Sherif Karama
Psychiatrist.
Researcher in neuroscience. He specializes in magnetic resonance neuroimaging.
McGill University. Montreal, Canada
What is the scientific definition of an emotion?
There are several definitions of an emotion and researchers themselves don’t all necessarily agree on the subject.
In the 20th century the scientist Paul Ekman found out that there were facial expressions that were common to people of different cultures and interpreted this as meaning that there are core discrete emotions (in the mathematical sense). On this basis, several researchers have tried to find physiological markers of these discrete emotions. To date we have not found any markers specific to these emotions. This has led to a new perspective based on dimensional approaches with, for example, the dimensions of arousal (i.e. high and low) and valence (i.e. positive and negative). These approaches suggest that emotions are not discrete entities but are rather placed on a continuum. That said, things do not seem to be as simple as the same levels on the 2 scales may reflect different emotions and are often influenced by the cognitive interpretation a given person makes of events leading to emotional reactions. In short, the definition of emotions is unclear.
Most consider that emotions must arise from an endogenous (i.e. internal) or exogenous (i.e. external) stimuli. These stimuli are interpreted/processed. This processing triggers a physiological reaction and a subsequent behavioral response.
To further confuse the debate, the psychologist William James has said "We do not run when we see a bear because we are scared. We are afraid because we run.” In other words, according to him, it is the fact that we run that causes the consciousness of fear. This is hypotheticial of course.
The study of emotions is in its infancy in part due perhaps to the work of Skinner (first half 20th century) who developed operant conditioning in which only observable things are "interesting to study". This placed the field of emotions in the domain of subjective non observable phenomena and therefore 'non-scientific'. Joseph Ledoux, with his meticulous studies on fear conditioning, has significantly contributed to bring emotions to the forefront. Also, with brain imaging we are able to observe more or less objectively phenomena of an emotional nature.
Is seeking to feel the emotions experienced by others an existing disease?
There is nothing in the DSM-IV-TR (which is the North American diagnostic manual) which fits well with that.
Can one live without emotions?
It depends on what you mean by "live".
Nov 16, 2009