Which is not a necessary element of emotion?

Which is not a necessary element of emotion?

• A. Verbal response
• B. Bodily arousal
• C. Cognitive appraisal
• D. Expressive behavior

Answer: (A)

Emotions are made up of several observable and internal components, and one of the key ideas is that you don’t need to use words to experience an emotion. Verbal response is not a necessary element because you can feel and know emotion without speaking. For example, you can feel fear when you hear a loud crash and notice your heart racing and your body tensing, even if you stay silent. The body’s arousal signals (bodily arousal) show the physiological side of emotion, and many theories treat that arousal as a core part of the experience. Cognitive appraisal—the mental evaluation of what the situation means—helps label and interpret the emotion, and expressive behavior—the outward display like facial expressions or gestures—often accompanies the emotion to communicate it to others. While you might express an emotion verbally, that verbalizing is not required for the emotion to exist, which is why verbal response is the best choice for what isn’t necessary.

Emotions are made up of several observable and internal components, and one of the key ideas is that you don’t need to use words to experience an emotion. Verbal response is not a necessary element because you can feel and know emotion without speaking. For example, you can feel fear when you hear a loud crash and notice your heart racing and your body tensing, even if you stay silent. The body’s arousal signals (bodily arousal) show the physiological side of emotion, and many theories treat that arousal as a core part of the experience. Cognitive appraisal—the mental evaluation of what the situation means—helps label and interpret the emotion, and expressive behavior—the outward display like facial expressions or gestures—often accompanies the emotion to communicate it to others. While you might express an emotion verbally, that verbalizing is not required for the emotion to exist, which is why verbal response is the best choice for what isn’t necessary.