The Tie That Binds? Coherence Among Emotion Experience, Behavior, and Physiology.

TLDR

Emotion theories posit that emotions create coherence across multiple response systems, yet empirical support for this claim is surprisingly limited. The study examined within‑individual associations among experiential, facial behavioral, and peripheral physiological responses during emotional responding and assessed whether emotion intensity moderates these associations. Responses were measured second‑by‑second during a film that induced amusement and sadness. Experience and behavior were highly associated, physiological responses only modestly so, and higher amusement intensity increased coherence between behavior and physiology, whereas sadness intensity did not, providing new evidence on response system coherence.

Abstract

Emotion theories commonly postulate that emotions impose coherence across multiple response systems. However, empirical support for this coherence postulate is surprisingly limited. In the present study, the authors (a) examined the within-individual associations among experiential, facial behavioral, and peripheral physiological responses during emotional responding and (b) assessed whether emotion intensity moderates these associations. Experiential, behavioral, and physiological responses were measured second-by-second during a film that induced amusement and sadness. Results indicate that experience and behavior were highly associated but that physiological responses were only modestly associated with experience and behavior. Intensity of amusement experience was associated with greater coherence between behavior and physiological responding; intensity of sadness experience was not. These findings provide new evidence about response system coherence in emotions.