AP Psych Unit 4 | Theories on Emotion

emotion

a feeling that involves our thoughts, bodily reactions, and actions

• influenced by what happens within us and around us

• result of physiological arousal and a cognitive label

  • our interpretation of arousal determines the specific emotion we experience

elicitors

stimuli or events that trigger an emotional response in an individual

arousal comes before emotion

suggests that emotions follow bodily arousal

• we feel afraid because we tremble, sad because we cry

facial-feedback hypothesis

suggests that facial expressions can influence emotions

• smiling can make you feel happier and frowning can make you feel sadder

arousal and emotion

occur simultaneously and independently

• an elicitor causes both bodily arousal and emotional experience at the same time

arousal + cognitive label = emotion

emotion is the result of physiological arousal and a cognitive label

• our interpretation of arousal determines the specific emotion we experience

broaden-and-build theory of emotion

positive emotions help us think more openly and try new things, making us stronger, while negative emotions do the opposite, making us think narrowly and act less

• emotions affect performance

universal emotions

the idea that certain emotional expressions are recognized and expressed similarly across different cultures

display rules

cultural norms that dictate how, when, and where individuals should express emotions