Emotions are defined as our
experience and interpretation of internal sensations as they are shaped by
physiology, language and social experiences. Our perception is based on
variation in interpreting these three experiences. The external stimuli that triggers
physiological changes mixed with the subjective perceptions that shape the
external phenomena are one of my most contributing perspectives of emotion. If
I am scared or I am hurt or I see anyone physically hurt, my heart starts
pounding and my body shakes. But my heart pounds similarly when my name is
announced on the stage for winning the first prize. So I think external trigger
with my own perception of that event raises my emotional level. I also believe
that our awareness towards what is considered appropriate for that moment is
highly responsible for our emotional outbursts. Like I see couples getting
married are radiating happiness, and all smiles in the western culture. But in
the olden days according to Indian culture, a bride who is getting married is
not supposed to laugh and smile as much because that gives a wrong impression
that she knows the bridegroom before marriage and this suspicion can raise
doubts about her character. Also the brides in the marriage feel unhappy for
leaving their family and getting into their husband’s new house. This example depicts
different types of emotions related to subjective perceptions of events as per
cultural norms.
Hey
ReplyDeleteGreat post and I totally agree with you because I feel the same way you feel when I see someone hurt my body goes through same emotions. I can just imagine how you would be feeling while on stage because it is the same expression I get. Sometimes I even think about that, whether it was due to fear or due to pressure from people around me. But I guess it is all because of our emotions. Also, about the Indian marriages, I agree with you. I am Indian and I also see like marriages in other cultures are different and brides are happy but in Indian culture, they cannot be happy. It is just ridiculous how a female cannot express her emotions.
With me, the external stimuli that triggers emotions gets fired very late after the fact. When I was told that my last grandparent, my grandma had passed away from breast cancer in Nigeria, I didn't know how to react. I couldn't cry, I wasn't rageful; it honestly didn't hit me. But then later on down the line towards the end of high school and the trigger was pulled hard. I mentally broke down. So one thing I have enquired, I need to fire off my emotional trigger at an earlier, more appropriate time. I like your post.
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