Which of the following is considered a basic emotion according to psychological theories of emotion?

• A. Pride
• B. Fear
• C. Jealousy
• D. Guilt

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of basic emotions in psychological theories. Basic emotions are universal, biologically based emotions that are recognized across cultures and have distinct facial expressions.
2. Recall common lists of basic emotions proposed by psychologists such as Paul Ekman, who identified emotions like fear, anger, happiness, sadness, surprise, and disgust as basic emotions.
3. Evaluate each option in the problem: Pride, Fear, Jealousy, and Guilt, by considering whether they are typically classified as basic emotions or more complex/social emotions.
4. Recognize that Fear is considered a basic emotion because it is innate, has clear physiological responses, and is universally recognized.
5. Conclude that emotions like Pride, Jealousy, and Guilt are generally considered complex or self-conscious emotions, which develop later and depend on social and cognitive factors.