Measurement of Mixed Emotions:Models, Methods and Perspectives

Sun Wujun; Jiang Yuan; Fang Ping

doi:10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240424

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Journal of Psychological Science ›› 2024, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4) : 959-965. DOI: 10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240424

Psychological statistics, Psychometrics & Methods

Measurement of Mixed Emotions:Models, Methods and Perspectives

Sun Wujun^1,3, Jiang Yuan², Fang Ping³

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Abstract

Mixed emotions are the simultaneous experience of both positive and negative emotion, which are important components of individual emotional complexity and have great significance to individual mental health and goal pursuit. Since mixed emotions are more complex in subjective experience and objective reaction, the same type of reaction often includes two or more basic emotional components at the same time, it is not only necessary to evaluate the states of multiple basic emotions, but also to present the pattern and characteristics of the co-occurrence of these basic emotions.
According to the Component Process Model, the generation of emotion involves multiple systems such as cognition, autonomic nervous system, motor system and motivation system. The generation of mixed emotions requires more complex operations of the above systems, including multiple cognitive evaluations and brain activation, autonomic nervous system activity characteristics different from pure emotions, contradictory external manifestations, and mixed and multiple subjective experiences. Based on different theoretical assumptions and measurement needs, three models, including univariate, bivariate and multivariate models, are gradually formed. Specific methods based on three measurement models are different, which to some extent leads to low consistency and comparability among research results. Therefore, it is necessary to sort out the commonly used measurement methods in the study of mixed emotions, summarize their applicable conditions, advantages and disadvantages, and hope to provide some reference for the future study of mixed emotions.
Among the methods to measure the subjective experience of mixed emotions based on the three measurement models, the mixed emotion scales, including the Trait Mixed Emotions Scale and the State Mixed Emotions Scale, provide a simple, direct and convenient measurement method and tool for measuring the subjective experience of mixed emotions. The mixed emotion index obtained by bivariate scale measurement and minimum calculation method is determined by the values of positive and negative emotion components together, which is more flexible in practical application. By dynamically monitoring the two emotional components, the keystroke method reflects how the participants' mixed emotional experience changes over time. Graphic methods, including AES and ESG, provide the intensity of individuals' emotional experience at different points in time. Among the methods to measure the objective response of mixed emotions, frontal-parietal network measurement provides a valuable single index for the neural network measurement of mixed emotions. The measurement of simultaneous activation of positive and negative emotional regions of the brain provides a bivariate indicator of neural responses to mixed emotions. Physiological arousal measures are based on the multivariable model that reflects mixed emotions by detecting changes in the response of effectors such as the heart, blood vessels, skin, and respiratory. The mixed expression method measures the external expression of mixed emotions by means of electromyography, or video recording and observer coding.
Future studies on mixed emotion measurement should focus on perfecting the theoretical basis of mixed emotion measurement, improving the specificity of objective response measurement index, establishing an evaluation system adaptive to the complexity of mixed emotional system, and focusing on measuring the temporal relationship between positive and negative components of mixed emotions.

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mixed emotions / theoretical basis / models / methods / perspectives

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Sun Wujun, Jiang Yuan, Fang Ping. Measurement of Mixed Emotions:Models, Methods and Perspectives[J]. Journal of Psychological Science. 2024, 47(4): 959-965 https://doi.org/10.16719/j.cnki.1671-6981.20240424

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