Opponent Process Theory Psychology Definition

How the opponent process works the opponent color process works through a process of excitatory and inhibitory responses with the two components of each mechanism opposing each other. This theory may explain why stunt people enjoy their work.

Motives Emotion Personality

Opponent process theory definition.

Opponent process theory psychology definition. This model was first proposed in 1878 by ewald hering a german physiologist and later expanded by richard solomon a 20th century psychologist. A theory wherein a stimulant or occurrence excites a primary affective state that might be enjoyable or not enjoyable and an opponent affective state that functions to lessen the magnitude of the primary state both at the same time. The opponent process theory was later expanded on by a psychologist by the name of richard solomon in the 20th century whom we ll introduce a little later.

Solomon s opponent process theory of emotions also commonly referred to as the opponent process theory of acquired motivation contends that the primary or initial reaction to an emotional event state a will be followed by an opposite secondary emotional state state b. Opponent process theory suggests that color perception is controlled by the activity of two opponent systems. The opponent process theory applies to different levels of the nervous system.

The opponent process theory explains color vision as a result of the way in which photoreceptors are interconnected neurally. Once the neural system passes beyond the retina to the brain the nature of the cell changes and the cell responds in an opponent fashion. A theory suggested by solomon where emotional reactions to a stimulus are followed by opposite emotional reactions.

The opponent process theory suggests that the way humans perceive colors is controlled by three opposing systems. A blue yellow mechanism and a red green mechanism. First the individual will feel intense anxiety before performing a stunt and then the person will receive an opposite reaction of relief after the stunt is completed.

These two cases combined make up emotional experience. Opponent process theory is a psychological and neurological model that accounts for a wide range of behaviors including color vision. We need four unique colors to characterize perception of color.

Wikipedia explains that the opponent process theory is a neurological and psychological theory that helps to describe a wide range of human behaviors including our ability to see in color.

The Opponent Process Theory Of Emotion Getting Stronger