Theoretical framework Emotion and learning Although there are different perspectives on the characteristics of emotions (Cabanac, 2002), it is generally agreed that emotion refers to "a complex psychological state that involves a subjective experience, a physiological response, and an expressive behavior" (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2007, p. 117). A given emotion is usually caused by a definite and identifiable stimulus and is short-lived but intense (Jarrell & Lajoie, 2017). Emotions are shaped by natural selection, and they are important in terms of providing clues for understanding our feelings and giving meaning to our lives. Emotions and game-based science learning 2235