Which of the following is an example of a quale (plural: qualia) in the context of emotion?

• A. The subjective feeling of sadness when hearing a melancholic song
• B. The physiological increase in heart rate during fear
• C. The cognitive appraisal of a situation as threatening
• D. The behavioral response of crying in response to pain

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'qualia' in psychology: Qualia refer to the subjective, internal experiences of perception or emotion, such as how something feels from the first-person perspective.
2. Identify the options that describe internal subjective experiences versus observable or measurable responses.
3. Recognize that physiological changes (like increased heart rate) and behavioral responses (like crying) are objective and can be measured externally, so they are not qualia.
4. Understand that cognitive appraisal involves mental evaluation or interpretation, which is a cognitive process rather than a raw subjective feeling.
5. Conclude that the subjective feeling of sadness when hearing a melancholic song is an example of qualia because it represents the personal, internal experience of emotion.