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The Discrete Emotions Questionnaire: A New Tool for Measuring State Self-Reported Emotions

2016; Public Library of Science; Volume: 11; Issue: 8 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1371/journal.pone.0159915

1932-6203

Cindy Harmon‐Jones, Brock Bastian, Eddie Harmon‐Jones,

Neural and Behavioral Psychology Studies

Several discrete emotions have broad theoretical and empirical importance, as shown by converging evidence from diverse areas of psychology, including facial displays, developmental behaviors, and neuroscience. However, the measurement of these states has not progressed along with theory, such that when researchers measure subjectively experienced emotions, they commonly rely on scales assessing broad dimensions of affect (positivity and negativity), rather than discrete emotions. The current manuscript presents four studies that validate a new instrument, the Discrete Emotions Questionnaire (DEQ), that is sensitive to eight distinct state emotions: anger, disgust, fear, anxiety, sadness, happiness, relaxation, and desire. Emotion theory supporting the importance of distinguishing these specific emotions is reviewed.