Clinical Applications and Theory

The development of theories of emotion and of methods for measuring
emotions has wide application in the field of clinical psychology. Many psychological
disorders are defined by emotional problems. People with phobias
exhibit excessive anxiety in situations that offer little or no possibility of
harm. Strong fears of water, heights, insects, closed spaces, flying, and social
situations are common examples of phobias. Theories of emotion provide a
framework within which clinicians can understand the development of phobias.
Measures of anxiety can be used to help diagnose those people who suffer
from phobias.

Depression is another example of a psychological disorder that has a
strong emotional component. Twenty percent of women and 10 percent of
men will experience a major depression at some time in their lives. This
complex disorder is manifested by distorted thinking (such as self-critical
thinking), physical difficulties (such as fatigue), and an array of emotions.
Some of the emotional symptoms of depression include sadness, anxiety,
and guilt. Thus, when psychologists assess the emotional aspects of depression,
they use questionnaires that include items that address several different
emotions.

Not only does the study of emotion help psychologists to understand psychological
disorders, but methods of treatment have also been developed
based on the understanding of emotion. For example, psychological research
has shown that emotional responses, such as anxiety, can be learned.
Consequently, treatment strategies have been developed to help people unlearn
their anxiety reactions. As a result, many people who suffer from simple
phobias can be treated effectively in a short period of time. Theories of
emotion that examine the relation between thinking and emotion have led
to therapies to alleviate depression. Aaron Beck has shown that the sadness,
anxiety, and guilt that accompany depression can be treated by helping people
change their styles of thinking.

Another area within clinical psychology that has benefited by the increasing
understanding of emotion is psychosomatic disorders. A psychosomatic
disorder (also called a psychophysiological disorder) is an abnormal physical
condition brought about by chronic negative emotions. Ulcers, hypertension,
headaches, and arthritis are examples of conditions that can be
brought about or worsened by negative emotions. The emotions that are
most often implicated in the development of psychosomatic disorders are
anger and anxiety. For example, researchers have discovered that prolonged
anxiety induced by internal conflict can cause ulcers in susceptible
people. In addition, researchers now have evidence that chronic hostility is a
risk factor for the development of heart disease.

Social psychologists study the influence of social factors on behavior.
Theories of emotion have been a focus of social psychologists because one’s
experience of emotion is in part determined by the immediate situation,
and the immediate situation often includes the behavior of others. Indeed,
Stanley Schachter, a social psychologist, is responsible for the development
of a theory of emotion that underscores the importance of one’s cognitive
appraisal of the social context in determining the emotion that one experiences.
For example, when people experience physiological arousal, their
own emotional experience will most likely be consistent with their interpretation
of the social context. If they are with a happy person, they will experience
happiness; if they are in the presence of an angry person, they will experience
anger. Theories of emotion have also increased understanding of
many social phenomena, such as aggression and interpersonal attraction.