Emulation

Duplicating the outcomes produced by another, but using different actions to reach this same end (i.e., goal emulation). Sometimes referred to affordance learning.  It appears that the great apes are capable of emulation, but not action-level imitation.  See Affordance, Correspondence problem, Imitation, Newborn imitation, Observational learning

Emphysema

Results in the alveolar walls disintegrating, leading to large air spaces that do not close during exhalation (see figure below).  The resultant reduction in surface area for gaseous exchange and accompanying lung elasticity make exhalation a very difficult task.  Clear-cut causes of emphysema are long-term irritation of the air passages from, for example, smoking and …

Empathizing/empathy

This concept goes beyond mind reading because it not only involves working out what another person is thinking or feeling, but also having an appropriate affective reaction to their mental states (something that is problematic for those with autism).  See Autism, Empathy, Mind reading, Mirror neurons, Theory of the child’s mind (ToM)

Empathy

A sharing of the negative or painful feelings of another.  It involves being sensitive to another’s emotions or emotional state, even though one’s own situation is different.  For example, I may be empathetic when I see a friend in pain, even though I recognize that I am not actually in pain myself.  Thus, it is …

Emotion

Subjective awareness of physiological changes usually accompanied by a distinct behavioral expression, especially (but not only) in the face.  See Emotional awareness, Emotional competence, Embarrassment, Emotional development, Emotional regulation, Limbic system, Self-conscious emotions, Shame

Emic-etic distinction

A  distinction that has played a role in theorising related to cross-cultural psychological research research.  Emic refers to a researchstrategy that takes an insider view of a particular culture and starts data collection from theperspectives and reports of participants.  The etic approach is a diametrically different strategy in that it aims to examine the extent …