Perbandingan Model Emosi Tomkins dan Ekman: Perspektif Neurosains Kognitif
The realm of human emotions is a complex and multifaceted landscape, with various theories attempting to unravel its intricacies. Two prominent models, the Tomkins Affect Theory and Ekman's Facial Action Coding System (FACS), have significantly contributed to our understanding of emotions, particularly from a neuroscientific perspective. While both models offer valuable insights, they differ in their approaches and emphasis, providing complementary perspectives on the nature and expression of emotions. This article delves into a comparative analysis of these two models, exploring their key tenets and highlighting their contributions to the field of cognitive neuroscience.
The Tomkins Affect Theory: A Foundation for Understanding Emotions
The Tomkins Affect Theory, developed by psychologist Silvan Tomkins, posits that emotions are innate, biologically based, and serve as primary motivators for human behavior. Tomkins proposed that there are eight basic affects, each with its own unique physiological and behavioral signature: interest-excitement, joy-joy, surprise-startle, anger-rage, fear-terror, disgust-revulsion, shame-humiliation, and distress-anguish. These affects are triggered by specific stimuli and are accompanied by distinct facial expressions, physiological changes, and behavioral responses. Tomkins argued that these affects are not simply reactions to external events but rather represent fundamental drives that shape our experiences and guide our actions.
Ekman's Facial Action Coding System: Decoding Facial Expressions
Paul Ekman, a renowned psychologist, developed the Facial Action Coding System (FACS) as a comprehensive method for analyzing and classifying facial expressions. FACS identifies 44 distinct muscle movements, known as Action Units (AUs), that contribute to the formation of various facial expressions. By observing and coding these AUs, researchers can objectively analyze facial expressions and identify the underlying emotions being conveyed. Ekman's research has provided strong evidence for the universality of certain basic emotions, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, and surprise, suggesting that these emotions are expressed and recognized across cultures.
Comparing the Two Models: Similarities and Differences
Both the Tomkins Affect Theory and Ekman's FACS share a common focus on the biological and physiological underpinnings of emotions. They both emphasize the role of facial expressions in conveying emotional states and acknowledge the universality of certain basic emotions. However, there are also significant differences between the two models. Tomkins' theory emphasizes the innate nature of emotions and their role as primary motivators, while Ekman's FACS focuses on the observable aspects of facial expressions and their cultural variations.
Implications for Cognitive Neuroscience
The Tomkins Affect Theory and Ekman's FACS have had a profound impact on the field of cognitive neuroscience. Tomkins' theory has inspired research on the neural mechanisms underlying different emotions, while Ekman's FACS has provided a valuable tool for studying the relationship between facial expressions and emotional states. These models have also contributed to our understanding of the role of emotions in social cognition, decision-making, and other cognitive processes.
Conclusion
The Tomkins Affect Theory and Ekman's Facial Action Coding System offer complementary perspectives on the nature and expression of emotions. While Tomkins emphasizes the innate and motivational aspects of emotions, Ekman focuses on the observable and cultural variations in facial expressions. Both models have significantly advanced our understanding of emotions from a neuroscientific perspective, providing valuable insights into the biological, physiological, and social dimensions of human emotional experience.