PROTOTYPE APPROACH Prototype: The best or average

exemplar of a category.

In our case….an emotion that is typical of the category of emotions and represents all other emotions

PROTOTYPE APPROACH Let’s think about the prototype of a dog…

List all the breeds that meet the requirements for the category “dog…”

List the things that help you determine whether an object is a dog…

Which breeds fit this “prototype?”

Which breeds do not fit this “prototype?”

PROTOTYPE APPROACH The best or average exemplar of a

category.

In our case….an emotion that is typical of the category of emotions and represents all other emotions

Psychological states that are closer to our prototype for emotions (e.g., changes in feelings/physiology) are more likely to be emotions.Ex: Joy vs. Happiness

PROTOTYPE APPROACH Free Listing - happiness, anger,

sadness, love, fear, hate, joy, excitement, anxiety, depression

Provide General Category – love, sadness, hate, happiness, joy, anger, depression, envy, disgust, fear

Rate the top 20 emotions – love, hate, anger, sadness, happiness, joy, fear, depression

[Fehr, B., & Russell, J.A. (1984). Concept of emotion viewed from a prototype perspective. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 113, 464-486. doi: 10.1037/0096-3445.113.3.464]

PERSPECTIVES OF EMOTION Basic Emotions – Universality!

Social Constructivist – Culture!

Cognitive Appraisal – Universality or Culture!

Dimensional – Universality or Culture!

Prototype Approach – helps us to better understand new emotions