Emotion (Psych 001) - Andrew Ward

emotion

a response of the whole organism, involving (1) physiological arousal, (2) expressive behaviors, and (3) conscious experience

James-Lange Theory

the theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli

stimulus -> body response -> experienced emotion

eg. feeling angry because we hit someone

Cannon-Bard Theory

the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses and (2) the subjective experience of emotion

heart starts pounding as you get scared

Schachter-Singer (1962)

Cognitive Labelling Theory Participants told they would be given vitamin supplement. Instead, participants were injected with adrenaline and then exposed to confederate in waiting room who was either playful or angry. Participants interpreted same physiological arousal to happiness or anger depending on confederate.

two-factor theory

the Schachter-Singer theory that to experience emotion one must (1) be physically aroused and (2) cognitively label the arousal

arousal fuels emotion, cognition channels it

spillover effect

arousal response to one event spills over into our response to the next event

eg. stanley cup riots

emotion theories

1) James-Lange theory

2) Cannon-Bard theory

3) Schachter-Singer theory

4) Zajonc; LeDoux

5) Lazarus

sympathetic nervous system

mobilizes body for action, directs adrenal glands to release epinephrine/adrenaline and norepinephrine/noradrenaline, provides energy thru glucose from liver to bloodstream

polygraph

a machine used in attempts to detect lies that measures several of the physiological responses (such as perspiration, heart rate, and breathing changes) accompanying emotion

facial feedback effect

the tendency of facial muscle states to trigger corresponding feelings such as fear, anger, or happiness

smiling can make you happier

behaviour feedback effect

the tendency of behaviour to influence our own and others' thoughts, feelings, and actions

skipping --> happy

slouching --> unhappy

Catharsis

in psychology, the idea that "releasing" aggressive energy (through action or fantasy) relieves aggressive urges

ways to manage anger

wait, find a healthy distraction or support, distance yourself

feel-good, do-good phenomenon

people's tendency to be helpful when in a good mood

also works in reverse, bc doing good strengthens social relationships

positive psychology

the scientific study of human flourishing, with the goals of discovering and promoting strengths and virtues that help individuals and communities to thrive

subjective well-being

self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life. Used along with measures of objective well-being (for example, physical and economic indicators) to evaluate people's quality of life.

pillars of positive psychology

1. positive well-being: satisfaction w past, happiness w present, optimism ab future

2. positive traits: enhancing courage, creativity, integrity, wisdom, etc.

3. positive groups, communities, and cultures

Income satiation

point at which we make enough money to satisfy our comfort and security needs, more money doesn't make us much happier

diminishing marginal utility

adaptation-level phenomenon

our tendency to form judgments (of sounds, of lights, of income) relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience

relative deprivation

the perception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself

misattribution of arousal (excitation transfer)

the process whereby people make mistaken inferences about what is causing them to feel the way they do

eg. men approached by hot woman on shaky bridge call more than those on sturdy bridge, thinking their fear is lust

social comparison

evaluating one's abilities and opinions by comparing oneself with others

upward: comparing to those better off

downward: comparing to those worse off

spreading of alternatives

Alternatives are seen as more different (the one we chose as better, the one we rejected as worse) after we choose compared to before

form of resolution of cognitive dissonance

hedonic treadmill

tendency for our moods to adapt to external circumstances

return to base over time