Emotions influence many different aspects of people’s personalities, and it is necessary to understand their impact to avoid facing any possible negative outcomes. The impact of emotions on learning and memory cannot be doubted, as the connection between emotions and memory was proved nearly 50 years ago, and the topic has remained relevant since then (Madsgaard et al., 2021). It is important to consider the influence of emotions on learning in order to make the process more effective and less harmful to one’s psyche.
Though the connection between emotions and the learning process is still making a fruitful ground for research, it has already been proved that emotions facilitate the memorization of information. These two processes are interconnected, and their integration positively influences the learning process (Madsgaard et al., 2021). First of all, positive emotions such as interest or passion help students stay concentrated during the lessons. Negative emotions, for instance, anger, fear, or boredom, in contrast, decrease the degree of concentration and the process of memorization as well (Rowe & Fitness, 2018). Positive emotions facilitate the process of perception of information by keeping students interested in what they learn and ensuring positive feedback from the teachers.
When speaking about the impact of emotions on memory, it is necessary to mention that they influence both long-term and short-term memory. Emotions positively influence not only memory itself but the process of memorizing as well. It becomes easier if positive emotions are included in it (Madsgaard et al., 2021). Hence, students memorize not only the teaching-learning materials but the whole process in general, which may also contribute to the appearance of positive emotions.
Taking into consideration all mentioned above, it is possible to conclude that emotions, memory, and the learning process are closely interconnected.
Positive emotions increase the student’s ability to concentrate on the process of studying and keep them involved in it. They also help students perceive and memorize information they process while learning. Hence, it is necessary to consider emotions in order to make the teaching-learning process more effective.
References
Madsgaard, A., Smith-Strøm, H., Hunskår, I. & Røykenes, K. (2021). A rollercoaster of emotions: An integrative review of emotions and its impact on health professional students’ learning in simulation-based education. Nursing Open.
Rowe, A. D. & Fitness, J. (2018). Understanding the Role of Negative Emotions in Adult Learning and Achievement: A Social Functional Perspective. Behavioral Science. 8(2), 27. Web.