Emotion Theories, Detection, and Cultural Influences in Psychology

What are the three components of emotion?

Physiological arousal, expressive behavior, and conscious experience.

What does the James-Lange Theory propose?

Arousal comes before the emotion: Stimulus → Physiological Response → Emotional Feeling.

What is the core idea of the Cannon-Bard Theory?

Arousal and emotion occur simultaneously: Stimulus → Physiological Response + Subjective Emotion.

What does the Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory explain?

Emotion is the result of physiological arousal and cognitive labeling: Stimulus → Physiological Arousal → Cognitive Appraisal → Emotional Experience.

What is the 'Low Road' pathway in emotion processing?

A quick pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala that allows for instant emotional responses.

What is the 'High Road' pathway in emotion processing?

A pathway that involves cognitive appraisal before the amygdala sends out the emotional signal.

What is a Duchenne smile?

A genuine smile that involves both the mouth and eye muscles.

How do women generally express emotions compared to men?

Women show higher emotional granularity and are better at detecting subtle emotional cues, while men use broader terms.

What is dispositional attribution in the context of gender and emotion?

When a woman's emotional response is attributed to her personality.

What is situational attribution in the context of gender and emotion?

When a man's emotional response is attributed to external circumstances.

What are universal emotions?

Facial expressions recognized globally, such as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgust.

What are display rules?

Cultural norms that dictate when, where, and how much emotion is appropriate to show.

What does the Circumplex Model of emotion map?

Emotions along two dimensions: valence (pleasant vs. unpleasant) and arousal (high vs. low energy).

What emotions are categorized as high arousal and negative valence?

Anger, fear, and panic.

What emotions are categorized as high arousal and positive valence?

Excitement, elation, and joy.

What emotions are categorized as low arousal and negative valence?

Sadness, boredom, and lethargy.

What is the significance of experience-dependent perception?

Our past experiences shape how we perceive and interpret emotional expressions.

What is misattribution of arousal?

When individuals incorrectly label their emotional responses due to physiological arousal.

How does culture influence emotion interpretation?

Culture acts as a filter, affecting how emotional expressions are perceived and understood.

What is the relationship between power and empathy?

The perceived gender gap in empathy disappears when social class or power is considered.

How do individualistic cultures differ from collectivist cultures in emotional expression?

Individualistic cultures encourage intense emotional expression, while collectivist cultures promote emotional restraint.

What is the role of the amygdala in emotional processing?

The amygdala is involved in processing emotions and sending out emotional signals.

What is the effect of a 'thin slice' of behavior in emotion detection?

People can accurately judge traits and emotions based on brief, silent observations.

What is the impact of societal stereotypes on emotional expression?

Stereotypes influence how emotions are expressed and interpreted based on gender.

What is the significance of cognitive appraisal in emotional experience?

Cognitive appraisal helps individuals label their physiological arousal and contributes to their emotional experience.

What is the 'Shaky Bridge Study' an example of?

It illustrates misattribution of arousal, where men mistook fear-induced arousal for attraction.

What are the low arousal negative emotions?

Sadness, Boredom, Lethargy

What are the low arousal positive emotions?

Contentment, Serenity, Relaxation

What are the negative implications of chronic anger?

Linked to heart disease, increased aggression, and reinforcement of prejudice.

What is adaptive anger?

Anger that provides the energy needed to take action, solve problems, or address social injustices.

What is a common misconception about 'venting' anger?

Research suggests that venting often increases anger rather than reducing it.

What is the 'wait it out' strategy for anger management?

Allowing physiological arousal to naturally decrease over time.

What does the 'reappraise' strategy involve?

Reinterpreting the situation to reduce anger.

What is the 'feel-good, do-good' phenomenon?

The reciprocal relationship between mood and behavior where feeling good increases prosocial behavior.

What is the adaptation-level phenomenon?

Our tendency to judge new experiences based on a 'neutral' level defined by prior experience.

How do individualistic cultures view happiness?

Happiness is often tied to high self-esteem, personal achievement, and excitement.

How do collectivistic cultures view happiness?

Happiness is tied to social belonging, cooperation, and a calm, balanced life.

What is the relationship between money and happiness?

Money can boost happiness significantly when basic needs are met, but provides diminishing returns thereafter.

What is upward social comparison?

Comparing ourselves to those better off, leading to feelings of relative deprivation.

What is downward social comparison?

Comparing ourselves to those worse off, which can increase gratitude and satisfaction.

What is a stressor?

An external event or situation that causes stress.

What is the stress response?

The physical and emotional reaction to a stressor.

What are the two types of cognitive appraisal?

Primary appraisal (threat or challenge) and secondary appraisal (resources to handle it).

What is the sympathetic nervous system's role in stress?

It triggers the fight-or-flight response, releasing adrenaline and cortisol.

What are the three stages of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion.

How does chronic stress affect the immune system?

It diverts energy away from the immune system, making it harder to fight off illnesses.

What characterizes Type A personality?

Competitive, hard-driving, impatient, and hostile, linked to heart disease.

What is learned helplessness?

A state of passive resignation when a person perceives they have no control over repeated bad events.

What is problem-focused coping?

Addressing the stressor directly to change the situation.

What is emotion-focused coping?

Attempting to reduce the emotional impact of the stressor.

What role does social support play in stress management?

Feeling liked and encouraged by friends/family helps reduce stress.

How does aerobic exercise help with stress?

It increases serotonin and reduces blood pressure.

What is the faith factor in health outcomes?

Religiously active people tend to live longer due to social support, healthy lifestyles, and a sense of hope.