Feelings and Emotions

Objective

From memory,the student shall define feelings, as they pertain to feelings created in thebrain.

Introduction

Feelings andemotions are not the same (DifferenceBetween.net, 2014). Though they arerelated, they are very different, and therefore, are defined differently.

Feelings

Feelings aredefined as an experience from an outside stimulus, such as things we see, hear,smell, taste or touch (DifferenceBetween.net, 2014).

Feelings canbe defined very differently, but for our purposes, the definition above willbest define them. SeeDifferenceBetween.net for more information.

Emotions

Emotions aredefined as an experience from an internal stimulus, such as thought, memory, or feelings (DifferenceBetween.net, 2014). Emotions usually result in a physical reaction, like facialexpressions or physical movement, such as when someone jumps when scared. See DifferenceBetween.net for more information.

Objective

From memory,the student shall explain the process of producing feelings and emotions,including the purpose of the thalamus, amygdala, and hypothalamus.

Introduction

The figureat the top of the page illustrates the process of producing feelings andemotions. Feelings and emotions begin with our senses—everything we see, hear, smell,taste, or touch.

Thalamus

The thalamussits at the top of our spinal cord, and collects our incoming senses. Thepurpose of the thalamus is to distribute those sensory inputs to the parts ofthe brain that need them.

Amygdala

The amygdalahas many purposes and functions. In this lesson, the purpose of the amygdala isto convert sensory inputs into feelings (Wolfe, 2010). The amygdala looks forpatterns and creates a feeling from them (Wolfe, 2010). If a person is talkingloudly and aggressively, and has an angry expression and body language, theamygdala simply labels the person as ‘angry.’ The amygdala has no idea what theperson is saying or feeling, just that the person looks and sounds angry. Theprocess is called ‘patter recognition,’ and it is simple and fast (Wolfe,2010). The feelings generated by the amygdala are sent to the hypothalamus forfurther processing. They are also sent to the thinking brain as our impressionsof what is going on around us.

Hypothalamus

The hypothalamus converts feelings into emotionsby activating a series of glands in the endocrine system (Wolfe, 2010). Theendocrine system releases powerful hormones that control our body’s functions,and generate emotions (Wolfe, 2010). Emotions might be fright, aggressiveness,facial expressions, body language, or any other outward sign. Emotions also goto the thinking brain as attitude. Attitude makes up the behavior that comesfrom our emotional brain.

Seethe Introduction.

DifferenceBetween.net (2014). Difference between feelings and emotions. Retrieved from: http://www.differencebetween.net/miscellaneous/difference-between-feelings-and-emotions/

Wolfe (2010). Brain matters:Translating research into classroom practice (2nd ed.). Alexandra, VA: ASCD.