Some might believe that they can hide their feelings, but the subtleties of emotions often give people away. So, what is it that influences people's emotions?
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Environmental influences
Although basic emotions seem largely innate, the influences of culture and learning modifies emotional expressions. The presence of other people often influences the intensity of emotional expression.
For example, Japanese students tend to be more expressive when they watch a film alone compared with unfamiliar peers.
However, the emotional expression of American students did not vary whether they were watching alone or with unfamiliar peers (Ekman, Friesen, & Ellsworth, 1972).
Also, gestures in different cultures mean different things, but, for facial expressions, they are universal, innate and social. A study was done and it showed that blind babies were able to exhibit social smiles at about the same age as sighted infants.
In addition, another factor that influences people's emotions is that cultures vary in how much expressions should be expressed.
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Individual differences
The overall levels of emotional reactivity is different between humans, and one source of individual difference appears to be the amygdala, mentioned above. The amygdala plays a crucial role in interpretation of emotion stimuli. In a study, when participants were shown photographs to elicit negative or neutral mood, those with higher amygdala activity in response to viewing negative photos reported more negative mood.
Gender also plays a part, as mentioned in the above post. Woman are more able to express their emotions more than man. (Fig. 1)
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4mxsTaRhGFj6De5wSh5iHa1fUD-bfCAtFmOsZAGY4isjxtzEE0w
Fig. 1
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Environmental influences
Although basic emotions seem largely innate, the influences of culture and learning modifies emotional expressions. The presence of other people often influences the intensity of emotional expression.
For example, Japanese students tend to be more expressive when they watch a film alone compared with unfamiliar peers.
However, the emotional expression of American students did not vary whether they were watching alone or with unfamiliar peers (Ekman, Friesen, & Ellsworth, 1972).
Also, gestures in different cultures mean different things, but, for facial expressions, they are universal, innate and social. A study was done and it showed that blind babies were able to exhibit social smiles at about the same age as sighted infants.
In addition, another factor that influences people's emotions is that cultures vary in how much expressions should be expressed.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Individual differences
The overall levels of emotional reactivity is different between humans, and one source of individual difference appears to be the amygdala, mentioned above. The amygdala plays a crucial role in interpretation of emotion stimuli. In a study, when participants were shown photographs to elicit negative or neutral mood, those with higher amygdala activity in response to viewing negative photos reported more negative mood.
Gender also plays a part, as mentioned in the above post. Woman are more able to express their emotions more than man. (Fig. 1)
http://t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcR4mxsTaRhGFj6De5wSh5iHa1fUD-bfCAtFmOsZAGY4isjxtzEE0w
Fig. 1
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