CH 8 - Emotion and Motivation

emotion is a [temporary / permanent] state involving [objective / subjective] experiences such as _____. it has _____ and _____ features

[temporary] [subjective] [appraisals] [mental] [physical]

appraisal (def)

conscious and unconscious evaluations/interpretations of emotionally-relevant stimuli

action tendencies (def + example)

readiness to engage in specific emotion-relevant behaviours

• anger → approach

• disgust → avoid

• fear → freeze / run

measurement of studying feelings

measuring reported closeness of one feeling to another

map-of-emotions / feeling-scape (def + dimensions)

maps location+distance between emotions

dimensions:

• valence (X-AXIS: positive/negative)

• arousal (Y-AXIS: active/passive (high arousal/low arousal))

2 theories explaining how we experience emotion

1. james-lange theory

2. cannon-bard theory

james-lange theory

explains how emotion is experienced

• stimuli triggers ANS → produces emotional response

• emotions arise as product of bodily reactions

cannon-bard theory

explains how emotion is experienced

• emotions occur simultaneously, but INDEPENDENTLY of physiological activity

stanley schachter / jerome singer’s two-factory theory

stimuli triggers physiological arousal → mind then interprets it as emotion

• interpretation differs based on circumstance

capilano bridge study (theory it supports)

stanley schachter and jerome singer’s two-factor theory

• fear is interpreted as romantic arousal

what theory does this diagram represent and why?

james-lange theory: emotion is directly interpreted as a response to the physiological reaction

what theory does this diagram represent and why?

two-factor theory: cognitive thinking labels the emotion based on situation and physiological response (appraisal)

amygdala’s role

emotional - threat detector

• works in appraisal (evaluation of emotional response to stimulus)

• fast vs slow pathways

fast vs slow pathway of emotion (through the brain)

fast: thalamus → amygdala

slow: thalamus → cortex → amygdala

emotional expression

observable sign of emotional state (facial expressions, voice)

universality hypothesis

emotional expressions mean/are interpreted universally

list the 5 universal emotions

1. anger

2. disgust

3. fear

4. happiness

5. sadness

_____ cause emotional expressions

[emotions]

facial feedback hypothesis

emotional expressions can cause the emotional experiences they signify

• contraction of the muscles is involved

mimicry

individual using their own emotions to identify others’ emotions

display rules (def + technique list)

norms for control of appropriate emotional expression (rules vary per culture)

1. intensification: exaggerating expression

2. deintensification: muting expression

3. masking: expressing one emotion while feeling another

4. neutralizing: no expression of the emotion (poker face)

telling lies affects _____ and _____ behaviour

[verbal] [nonverbal]

motivation (def)

internal causes of purposeful behaviour

• instincts

• emotions

• drives / drive-reduction theory

• hedonic principle, primary motivation

instinct (def)

william james - innate tendency to seek goals are instincts

• concept rejected by behaviourists

2 ways emotions move human beings

1. provide information (helps decision-making)

2. provide objectives (to strive towards)

drives

internal state generated by physiological needs

• homeostasis

• drive-reduction theory

drive-reduction theory

theory suggesting organisms are motivated to reduce their drives

• driven by reduction of drive - motivated to satisfy the need

homeostasis

stable set of conditions a system must maintain for efficient functioning

hedonic principle

motivation to experience pleasure, avoid pain

• plato and aristotle

primary motivation

to feel good rather than bad

emotion regulation

use of cognitive and behavioural strategies to influence one’s emotional experience

reappraisal

changing one’s emotional experience by changing the stimulus’ meaning (alternate interpretation)

motivated body hierarchy (def, levels, founder)

abraham maslow - motivation to fulfill need hierarchy

• some needs are more urgent (physiological)

• BOTTOM TO TOP: physiological needs → safety/security → belongingness/love needs → esteem needs → self-actualization need

hunger: orexigenic vs anorexigenic

orexigenic

• switches ON hunger - LATERAL HYPOTHALAMUS

• ghrelin hormone

anorexigenic

• switches OFF hunger - VENTROMEDIAL HYPOTHALAMUS

• leptin hormone

eating disorders (list 3, brief desc)

• binge eating disorder (BED)

  • uncontrolled episodes of eating large amt in short time periods

  • most common

• bulimia nervosa

  • binge eating followed by purging

• anorexia nervosa

  • intense fear, severe restriction of food intake

  • least common, highest mortality rates

obesity (BMI, causes)

BMI over/equal to 30 - most pervasive eating-related problem in canada

causes: genes, toxins, leptin-resistance, lack of exercise/overeating

how does evolutionary mismatch impact development of problems like obesity?

adaptive traits in ancestral environments are maladaptive in modern, sedentary lifestyle environments

how does the body resist weight loss?

1. fat cells are added during weight gain

2. added fat cells can only decrease in size, not number

3. dieting decreases one’s metabolism as a survival instinct

three hormones playing key role in sexual desire

1. DHEA (dehyroepiandrosterone)

2. testosterone

3. estrogen

fertility clues in animals VS humans

animals: female animals display ovulation indicators → mate-guarding

humans: female humans’ sexual interest is not limited to ovulatory cycle

____ may be the hormonal basis of sexual motivation in human males and females

[testosterone]

human sexual response cycle (def, phases)

stages of physiological arousal during sexual activity

phases:

1. excitement

2. plateau

3. orgasm

4. resolution

biological vs psychological motivations (examples) (3 dimensions)

biological:

• food, sex, sleep, oxygen

psychological:

• unique, limitless

• dimensions

  • extrinsic/intrinsic

  • conscious/unconscious

  • approach/avoidance

psychological motivations: intrinsic vs extrinsic

1. intrinsic motivation: motivated to take actions that are inherently rewarding / fun / satisfying

   1. overjustification effect: extrinsic rewards undermine intrinsic motivation

2. extrinsic motivation: motivation to take actions that are not rewarding, but lead to a reward

   1. delayed gratification

psychological motivations: conscious vs unconscious

1. conscious motivation: individual is aware

   1. easy actions → general motivation

   2. difficult actions → more specific motivation targeted within

2. unconscious motivation: individual is not aware

   1. achievement motivation: desire to experience sense of accomplishment through meeting one’s goal

psychological motivations: approach vs avoidance, loss aversion

approach motivation: motivated to experience positive outcomes

• promotion focus

avoidance motivation: motivated to not experience negative outcomes

• powerful, risktaking to avoid loss

• prevention focus

loss aversion: tendency to care more about avoiding loss than achieving equal-size gain

what is stronger: avoidance motivation or approach motivation?

avoidance motivation

emotion (def)

temporary state involving subjective experiences (appraisals), physiological activity

• mental and physical features

appraisal

cognitive, subjective evaluation of a situation or event, which determines an individual's emotional and behavioral response

• assigns meaning

feelings are studied by…

measurement of reported closeness of one feeling to another

map of emotions (feeling-scape)

estimates location and difference between emotions

• valence dimension (positive/negative)

• arousal (active/passive)