Phenomenological Descriptions

Disgust at Smell, Sight, Texture, Taste, and Attitudes (Contempt) Disgust is a emotion that functions as a protective mechanism against potential sources of contamination or toxicity.  It can be triggered by sensory stimuli such as unpleasant odors, signs of decay, sticky or slimy textures, and aversive tastes.  Beyond its biological role, disgust is also involved in the experience of contempt — an emotion that arises in response to morally reprehensible behaviors, such as mean-spirited, cowardly, or dishonorable actions." Description When faced with a bad smell or the sight of something repulsive, I notice an immediate and distinct bodily reaction.  In the case of unpleasant odors, the intensity of the response varies depending on the degree of aversiveness.  A tension arises that pulls upward the area between the nose and the upper lip (where the nasolabial fold begins), causing it to wrinkle and lift — as if the face, for a moment, were trying to internally recoil...

Investigating the Emotional Process Emotions are a complex process that involve a series of components: Contextual:  stimulus, situation, culture; Neurophysiological:  activation of brain areas and structures, such as the amygdala, for example; Physiological:  changes in various bodily systems—respiratory, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, digestive, etc.; Expressive:  facial, vocal, and postural expressions; Motivational:  goals and action tendency; Functional:  preparing the organism for protection, overcoming obstacles, etc.; Behavioral:  approach, avoidance, fight, flight etc.; Cognitive:  evaluations, interpretations, conceptualizations; Experiential:  perceptions of internal sensations, desires, and impulses to act.  Each theory of emotion highlights one or more components as the most central elements of what emotions are, combining them in different ways. For Damasio (1994), for example, physiological changes are the central compo...