Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Emotional experience — a review

  • Published:
Current Psychological Reviews

Abstract

A case is made that it is both important and feasible to investigate the subjective experience of emotion within a loosely conceived framework of conventional science. Those studies in which this attempt has been made are reviewed according to the emphases which have guided them: methodological, the situational approach, and the individual approach, concentrating either on the person or the experience. Guidelines are suggested for future research in this area.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aderman, D. (1972). Elation, depression and helping behaviour. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 24, 91–101.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J.G. (1976). Correlates of emotional style. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 4, 678.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J.G. & Haccoun, D.M. (1976). Sex differences in emotionality. A multidimensional approach. Human Relations, 29, 711–722.

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J.G. & Hamsher, J.H. (1974). The development and validation of a test of emotional styles. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 663–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barton, K. & Cattell, R.B. (1974). Changes in psychological state measures and time of day. Psychological Reports, 35, 219–222.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bavelas, J.B. (1978). Personality: Current Theory and Research. California: Wadsworth.

  • Bloch, A.M.A. (1969). Remembrance of feelings past: A study of phenomenological genetics. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 74, 340–347.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bloch, J. (1954). Studies in the phenomenology of emotions. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 54, 358–363.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bottenberg, E.H. (1975). Phenomenological and operational characteristics of factor-analytically derived dimensions of emotion. Psychological Reports, 37, 1253–1254.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Breuer, S.R. (1976). A study of the duration, intensity, semantics and phenomenology of adjectives used to describe the fear emotions. Dissertation Abstracts International, 36, 6351–6352.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, A. (1976). Subjective measures of well-being. American Psychologist, 31, 117–124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cialdini, R.B. & Kenrich, D.T. (1976). Altruism as hedonism: A social development perspective on the relationship of negative mood states & helping. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 34, 907–914.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Constantini, A.F., Braun, J.R. Davis, J. & Iervolino, A. (1973). Personality & mood correlates of schedule of receipt experience scores. Psychological Reports, 32, 1143–1150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantinople, A. (1970). Some correlates of average level of happiness among college students. Developmental Psychology, 2, 447.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davitz, J.L. (1969). The Language of Emotion. New York & London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davitz, J.L. (1970). A dictionary and grammar of emotion. In M.L. Arnold (ed.) Feelings & Emotions: The Loyola Symposium. New York & London: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Delin, P.S. & Winefield, A.H. (1973). On having the teeth set on edge: preliminary enquiry. Psychological Reports, 33, 379–382.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dershowitz, N.K. (1975). On connotative meaning of emotional terms to the blind. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 41, 87–94.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devine, B. Lundberg, U. (1977). The influence of emotional conditions on similarity estimations of emotional terms. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 18, 317–326.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Efran, M.G. & Cheyne, J.A. (1974). Affective concomitants of the invasion of shared space: behavioural, physiological & verbal indicators. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 29, 219–226.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fishbein, M. (1965). A consideration of beliefs, attitudes & their relationships. In I.D. Steiner & M. Fishbein (eds.) Current Studies in Social Psychology. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fogel, M.L. Curtis, G.C., Kordasz, F. & Smith, W.G. (1966) Judges’ rating, self-ratings & checklist report of affects. Psychological Reports, 299–307.

  • Flugel, J.C. (1955). A quantitative study of feeling and emotion in everyday life. In Studies in Feeling & Desire. London: Duckworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frijda, N. (1969). Recognition of emotion. In L. Berkowitz (ed.) Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 4, 167–223.

  • Gilden, A. (1969). Children’s label of descriptions of emotional experiences. Dissertation Abstracts International, 30, 845–846.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi, A. (1970). Psychology as a Human Science: A Phenomenologically Based Approach. New York: Harper & Row.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorman, B.S. & Wessman, A.E. (1974). The relationship of cognitive styles and moods. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 30, 18–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, P.A. (1977). Affective learning & mood induction. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 1402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Griffith, M. (1977). Effects of noncontingent success & failure on mood and performance. Journal of Personality, 45, 442–457.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, M.B. (1977). Effects of altruism on mood. Journal of Social Psychology, 102, 197–208.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harris, M.B. & Smith, R.J. (1975). Mood and helping. Journal of Psychology, 91, 215–221.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Herron, E.W. (1969). The multiple affect adjective check list: A critical analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 25, 46–53.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hillman, J. (1960). Emotion. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, H. & Peterson, D. (1970). Analysis of moods in personality disorders. Psychological Reports, 27, 187–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Irwin, R., Kammann, D. & Dixon, G. (1979). If you want to know how happy I am you’ll have to ask me. New Zealand Psychologist, 8, 10–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Isen, A.M. (1970). Success, failure, attention and reaction to others: The warm glow of success. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 15, 294–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isen, A.M. & Levin, P.F. (1972). Effect of feeling good on helping. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 21, 384–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Izard, C.E. (1972). The Face of Emotion, New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izard, C.E. (1977). Human Emotions. New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Izard, C.E. & Caplan, S. (1974). Sex differences in emotional responses to erotic literature. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 42, 468.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnston, M. & Huckman, A. (1977). Cross validation & response sets in repeated use of mood questionnaires. British Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology, 16, 235–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kammann, R., Christie, D., Irwin, R. & Dixon, G. (1979). Properties of inventory to measure happiness (and psychological health). New Zealand Psychologist, 8, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelsall, P.N. & Strongman, K.T. (1978). Emotional experience & the implication grid. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 51, 243–251,

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kerle, R.H. & Bialek, H.M. (1958). The construction,validation & application of a subjective stress scale. Staff Memorandum, U.S. Army Leadership Human Research Unit, Pusidio of Monterey, Feb. 1958.

  • Kilty, K.M. (1969). On the relationship between affect & cognition. Psychological Reports, 25, 215–219.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Krebs, J.S. (1974). The infinite spaceship. A phenomenological analysis of the experience of loneliness. Dissertation Abstracts International, 35, 1052.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J.D. (1974). Self-attribution of emotion: The effects of expressive behaviour on the quality of emotional experience. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 29, 475–486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laird, J. & Crosby, M. (1974). Individual differences in self-attribution of emotions. In H. London & R. Nesbitt (eds) Thought & Feeling: Cognitive Alteration of Feeling States. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamont, J. (1973). Depressed mood & power over the feelings of other persons. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29, 319–321.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J.F. (1975). Ecstatic experience: A classification. Dissertation Abstracts International, 35, 5645.

    Google Scholar 

  • London, H. & Monello, L. (1974). Cognitive manipulation of boredom. In H. London & R. Nesbitt (eds.) Thoughts & feelings: Cognitive alteration of feeling states. Chicago: Aldine.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mandler, G. (1976). Mind & Emotion. New York & London: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marsella, A.J., Murray, M.D. & Golden, C. (1974). Ethnic variations in the phenomenology of emotions. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 5, 312–328.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matheny, K.B. & Blue, F.R. (1977). The effects of self-induced mood states on behaviour & physiological arousal. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33, 936–940.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan, J.F. (1977). A scale for the evaluation of psychological distress. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33, 159–161.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McMillan, D.W. (1977). A study of the experience of emotion as a function of factors related to naturally occuring behaviour settings. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 2376.

    Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, G.M. (1975). The phenomenology of joy, an empirical investigation. Psychological Reports, 37, 39–54.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A. & Russell, J.A. (1974a). An Approach to Environmental Psychology, Cambridge, Mass: M.I.T. Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mehrabian, A. & Russell, J.A. (1974b). The basic emotional impact of environments. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 38, 283–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, S.A. (1977). Dependency, empathy & altruism: A preliminary study of proposed relationships. Dissertation Abstracts International, 37, 5331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, R.S., Underwood, W. & Rosenhan, D.L. (1973). Affect & altruism. Developmental Psychology, 8, 99–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, P.P. (1977). The mid-life crisis in retrospect: An analysis of some recollections of specific emotional concerns experienced during middle-age. Dissertation Abstracts International, 37, 5331–5332.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neufeld, R.W.J. (1973). Semantic dimensionality of the subjective stress scale. Psychological Reports, 33, 885–886.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noll, G.A. (1969). The reported experience of emotion. Dissertation Abstracts International, 30, 1384.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nourse, J.C. & Welch, R.B. (1971). Emotional attributes of colour: A comparison of violet & green. Perceptual & Motor Skills, 32, 403–406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. (1953). The development of modification of motivational systems in personality. In M.R. Jones (ed.) Current Theory & Research in Motivation. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. (1959). The experimental analysis of mood. XVth International Congress of Psychology. Acta Psychologica, 15, 426.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. (1963). The concept of mood. In S.M. Farber & R.H.L. Wilson (eds.) Conflict & Creativity, New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. (1965). Research with the mood adjective check list. In S.S. Tomkins & C.E. Izards (eds.). Affect, Cognition & Personality, New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. (1970). Mood, behaviour & experience. In M.B. Arnold (ed.) Feelings & Emotions: The Loyola Symposium. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nowlis, V. & Nowlis H.H. (1956). The description & analysis of moods. Annals of the New York Academy of Science, 65, 345–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Oudry, Y.M. (1974). Reported emotional experiences in relation to ethnic & sex group membership. Dissertation Abstracts International, 34, 5203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panzarella, R. (1977). The phenomenology of peak experiences in response to music & visual art & some personality correlates. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 419–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pecjak, V. (1970). Verbal synaesthesia of colours, emotions & days of the week. Journal of Verbal Learning & Verbal Behaviour, 9, 623–626.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J.A. & Mehrabian, A. (1974). Distinguishing anger & anxiety in terms of emotional response factors. Journal of Consulting & Clincial Psychology, 42, 79- 83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, J.A. & Mehrabian, A. (1977). Evidence for a three-factor theory of emotions. Journal of Research in Personality, 11, 273–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryman, D.H., Biersner, R.J. & LaRocco, J.M. (1974). Reliabilities & validities of the mood questionnaire. Psychological Reports, 35, 479–484.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sartre, J.P. (1948). The Emotions. New York: Philosophical Library.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schiffenbauer, A. (1974). Effect of observer’s emotional state on judgements of the emotional style of others. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 30, 31–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shatin, L. (1970). Alteration of mood via music: A study of the vectoring effect. Journal of Psychology, 75, 81–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spignesi, A. (1977). A phenomenological & experimental approach to the study of emotion judgements. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 2351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, G. (1971). Emotional involvement & subjective distance. Journal of Social Psychology, 84, 309–310.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tart, G.T. (1972). States of consciousness and state-specific sciences. Science, 176, 1203–1210.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Titelman, P. (1977). A phenomenological study of envy. Dissertation Abstracts International, 38, 383.

    Google Scholar 

  • Underwood, W.C. (1974). The effect of mood state on self-evaluation & self-reward. Dissertation Abstracts International, 34, 4722.

    Google Scholar 

  • Velten, E. Jnr. (1968). A laboratory task for induction of mood states. Behaviour Research & Therapy, 6, 473–482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werdman, A.M. (1976). Words and feelings: Children’s vocabulary of selected emotions. Dissertation Abstracts International, 37, 2827

    Google Scholar 

  • Wittmaier, B.C. (1974). Changes in arousal as a function of emotional or nonemotional appraisal. Psychonomic Society Bulletin, 3, 56–58.

    Google Scholar 

  • Woods, D.J., Cole, S. & Ferrandez, G. (1977). Dream reports & the test of emotional styles: A convergent-discriminant validity study. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 33, 1021–1022.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1960). The development of an affect adjective check list for the measurement of anxiety. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 24, 457–462.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. (1977). Development of a situation-specific trait-state test for the prediction & measurement of affective responses. Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology, 45, 513–523.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M. & Lubin, B. (1965). Normative data for the multiple affect adjective check list. Psychological Reports, 16, 438.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zuckerman, M., Lubin, B., Vogel, L. & Valerius, E. (1964). Measurement of experimental induced affects. Journal of Consulting Psychology, 28, 418–425.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand

    K. T. Strongman

Authors
  1. K. T. Strongman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Strongman, K.T. Emotional experience — a review. Current Psychological Reviews 1, 17–33 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979252

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02979252

Keywords

Search

Navigation