Original Articles

The Meaning of Emotion in the White Afrikaans Language Group: A Componential Emotion Theory Approach

Published in: Journal of Psychology in Africa
Volume 21 , issue 4 , 2011 , pages: 555–563

DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2011.10820497

Author(s): Cara Jonker North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa , Althea van der Merwe North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa , Johnny Fontaine Gent University, Belgium , Deon Meiring University of Pretoria, South Africa

Keywords: grid , emotion dimensions , activation-pleasantness , arousal , unpredictability , power-control , componential emotion theory , grid , emotion dimensions , activation-pleasantness , arousal , unpredictability , power-control , componential emotion theory

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Abstract

This study determined the meaning of emotion in a sample of white Afrikaans-speaking adults (n=120; males =32, females=88, age range =18–48+ years). Data were collected using the Meaning Grid (Scherer, 2005). The analysis examined the factor loadings of emotion words via a factor analysis and factor scores of 24 emotion terms were determined. Results indicated the following dimensions to characterize the meaning of emotion in the sample: activation-pleasantness, arousal/unpredictability and a power-control. The conclusion can be drawn that four dimensions are needed to satisfactory represent the meaning of emotion words in the white Afrikaans language group.

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