What is the theory of the opponent's process?
The theory of opponents is an explanation of how the experiences of certain sensory and neurological phenomena are connected together. Simply put, the body effectively processes contradictory experiences such as fear and pleasure, in the same place, which makes it difficult to experience both at once. When stimulation in such a place evokes one experience, one can experience a "helpful" opposite experience after stimulation. Among the two areas where the theory of the opponent's process has been applied is to understand color vision and exploring close connections among seemingly contradictory feelings. This theory can also explain phenomena such as taste.
When understanding color vision, the theory of opponents is very important. Simply put, bars and cones perceive things in terms of black/white, red/green and blue/yellow. For example, when someone looks at a red delicious apple, it stimulates red/green cones. If someone stares at the apple at the smallest 30 seconds and then looks at the empty sheet of paper, you will see the spooky green orVé. Individual cones cannot simultaneously process green and red, but at the same time green/red and blue/yellow cones can be activated. It also explains why some people are red/green in color, because cones sensitized to these wavelengths do not work properly or the brain is unable to receive signals from them.
This theory is also used to explain what happens when connected emotions are activated. The famous study included military parachutes. When men first jumped out of the plane, they were frightened with all the physical symptoms of fear. After landing, they experienced a rush of relief. Despite repeated expositions, this experience has occurred in shorter and shorter times, and relief has evolved into pleasure and changed the parachute from scary activity to exciting.
Some people may have noticed that when very intense feelings are caused, longer and less intense emotions that can be in oposition. Sometimes these secondary emotions appear before the first is fully dispersed and creates mixed feelings. Scientists have theorized that opponents theory can play a role with people looking for drugs to get high to avoid low. While the theory of opponents cannot fully explain the complex processes involved in addiction, it can certainly be a contributing factor.