Question:
How you should properly cite the textbook and class module in the assignment or are they correct? For this activity, I carried out a small research exercise with three volunteers to observe how emotions influence physical reactions. Before beginning, I explained confidentiality, voluntary participation, and the right to withdraw. Each person completed a form describing how their body responded to anger, happiness, and sadness.
Interpretation
From the responses, anger appeared most closely tied to the sympathetic nervous system. Participants described muscle tension, accelerated heartbeat, and shifts in breathing all indicators of the body entering a state of emergency readiness (Laurentian University, n.d., Module 2.1). This aligns with the role of the amygdala and the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal (HPA) system in stress responses, where cortisol and adrenaline prepare the body for action (Oatley, 2022, Ch. 7).
Happiness produced lightness, smiling, and laughter, reflecting positive nervous system activation. Although physiologically aroused, this state is interpreted as rewarding and energizing, supporting social connection (Laurentian University, n.d., Module 2.3; Oatley, 2022, Ch. 5).
Sadness was linked to crying, withdrawal, and fatigue. These are consistent with prolonged stress activation, serotonin depletion, and lowered energy, which can resemble depressive states (Laurentian University, n.d., Module 2.5; Oatley, 2022, Ch. 7).
Overall, the results highlight how emotions manifest in distinct bodily patterns, reinforcing the close relationship between emotional states and physiology. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Laurentian University. (n.d.). Module 2.1 The nervous system and emotion; Module 2.3 The limbic system; Module 2.5 Emotion and stress [Online lecture]. In C. Whissell & K. Oatley, Emotion. Laurentian University. [insert course URL here]
Oatley, K. (2022). Understanding emotions (4th ed.). Wiley.