Emót

Emót is the Icelandic term for emotion, defined as a complex, subjective experience that involves feelings, physiological arousal, cognitive interpretation, and observable expression. Emót differs from mood, which is more persistent, and from affect, a broader general sense of feeling states.

Etymology: The word emót comes from the Latin emotio meaning "a moving" or "impulse," through European languages; in Icelandic it appears in the modern psychology vocabulary and everyday speech to denote a strong affective state.

Theoretical perspectives: Emót is studied in several frameworks. Discrete-emotion theories posit a set of basic emotions (e.g., joy, sadness, anger). Dimensional theories describe emotions along axes of valence (positive–negative) and arousal (high–low). Appraisal theories emphasize how cognitive evaluation of events shapes emotional experience. Integration suggests emotion arises from both body signals and cognitive appraisal.

Components and expression: An emót typically includes subjective feeling, autonomic arousal (heart rate, skin conductance), expressive behavior (facial expressions, voice), and regulatory processes such as reappraisal or suppression. Culture influences which emotions are recognized and how they are expressed.

Functions and measurement: Emót influences decision making, motivation, social communication, and learning. Researchers measure emót through self-report scales, physiological indicators, and facial-expression coding; cross-cultural studies highlight variation in display rules and emotion labeling.