Emotional Response Paper

Generally speaking, I found your response to the given prompt intriguing and thorough. Likewise, it was interesting to analyze the gathered data, realizing the variance among cultures and social circumstances. For instance, the subjects whom I used in the experiment were Christians who ranged from thirteen to sixteen years of age. In my opinion, they were more open minded to the experiment. Additionally, being at our churches youth night, allowed for my friends to perform the task in a relaxed atmosphere. As a result, I found that though the range was two points apart (6 was the average for bared teeth, 4 for pursed lips), they were not responding at extreme levels of sadness. Thus, I too would questions, as did you, how social settings impact …show more content…
Consider if you will the Cannon-Bard theory, and how it might apply to the experiment performed, pencil-in-mouth (Nevid, 2015, p. 308). The belief of this theory is that bodily changes ensue due to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, as well as emotional responses concurrently (nevid, 2015, p. 308). Hence, according to this philosophy, when a subject places a pencil between his or her teeth, while allowing them to be shown, the body simultaneously feels an increases of happiness, due to the feigned smile. Whereas, when the lips are pursed, the body immediately reduces the level of happiness felt, as the frown is formed. In essence, emotions are not responses generated by bodily activity, but are merely accompanied by them (Nevid, 2015, p. …show more content…
As one might expect, I was overwhelmed with many emotions during this period of struggle. When my mother awoke me with tears streaming down her face, I was in immediately filled with shock, I was numb as my heart raced. The instantaneous response of both emotion and body conformed to the Cannon-Bard theory. Additionally, my response as I approached the casket at the funeral was consistent with this theory as well. Specifically, as I saw him laying lifeless I shook, tears rolled down my face, sweat poured from my body, my heart was broken. Indeed, this wasn’t a slow process that occurred in steps, it was a synchronized reaction (Nevid, 2015, p. 308). Though this time of life is proving to be trying, I still hold to the Word. According to James 1:12, “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him (KJV). Thus, I will