Self-conscious emotions require self-report since they lack distinct physiological markers

Evidence

Emotions can be ephemeral. How events are appraised and the subjective experience they generate can rapidly shift with changes in the social context. In order to capture people’s emotional responses to events, psychologists have employed a variety of methods including the assessment of facial expressions (Ekman, 1984), physiological reactivity (Pennebaker, 1982) and, most commonly, self-report methods (Shaver et al., 1987). Particularly for the self-conscious emotions of pride, shame, and guilt, for which differential physiological symptoms are not expected, researchers have primarily relied on various participant self-assessments (Tangney & Fischer, 1995). Individual differences in the tendency to experience these emotions are generally assessed via self-ratings of the frequency, duration, or intensity with which they are felt. — Nyla R. Branscombe and Bertjan Doosje (eds.), Collective Guilt, 143

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Boosting self-esteem reduces measurable physiological anxiety responses — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core: On the Role of…, 219; People are poorly equipped to name precise bodily emotional states. — Janet Burroway; Elizabeth Stuckey-French; Ned Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition: A Guide…, 124

Broader Connections

• People are poorly equipped to name precise bodily emotional states. #qualifies (0.74) — Janet Burroway; Elizabeth Stuckey-French; Ned Stuckey-French, Writing Fiction, Tenth Edition, 124
• Boosting self-esteem reduces measurable physiological anxiety responses #complicates (0.72) — Sheldon Solomon, Jeff Greenberg, Tom Pyszczynski, The Worm at the Core, 219