Which of the following is a self-conscious emotion? Multiple Choice
joy
anger
shame
fear
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is shame.
Explanation:
Emotions are often categorized into two broad types: basic emotions and self-conscious emotions.
Basic emotions are universal and generally arise automatically in response to external stimuli. Examples include joy, anger, and fear. These emotions typically do not require complex cognitive processing or self-awareness. For instance:
- Joy is a positive feeling often linked to pleasure or success.
- Anger is a response to perceived threats, injustice, or frustration.
- Fear is a reaction to danger or threat, triggering a survival mechanism.
On the other hand, self-conscious emotions require a sense of self and the ability to evaluate oneself against social standards, rules, or expectations. These emotions emerge when people become aware of how they appear to others or how their behavior aligns with societal norms. They depend on higher cognitive abilities like self-reflection, perspective-taking, and understanding social contexts.
Examples of self-conscious emotions include:
- Shame
- Guilt
- Embarrassment
- Pride
Shame specifically involves a painful feeling about the self, often tied to the perception that one has failed or done something socially unacceptable. Unlike basic emotions, shame requires self-evaluation and the awareness of others’ judgments.
To summarize:
- Joy, anger, and fear are basic emotions because they arise naturally without the need for self-reflection.
- Shame is a self-conscious emotion because it involves self-awareness, self-evaluation, and social standards.
Thus, among the options provided, shame is the only self-conscious emotion.