Stress and Emotion AP Psychology

Describe the relationship between emotional arousal and the autonomic nervous system

The arousal component of emotion is regulated by the autonomic nervous system's sympathetic (arousing) and parasympathetic (calming) divisions.

Describe how gender can affect understanding emotion

Women are better at reading subtle cues than men and women have greater emotional literacy; also have greater emotional responsiveness (react more emotionally even in their brains)

Seven universal emotions

happiness, sadness, contempt, surprise, fear, disgust, anger

The brain's pathways for emotions

In the two-track brain, sensory input may be routed (a) to the cortex (via the thalamus) for analysis and then transmission to the amygdala; or (b) directly to the amygdala (via the thalamus) for an instant emotional reaction.

How stress relates to the immune system and heart disease

Stress can increase inflammation in your body, which in turn is linked to factors that can harm your heart, such as high blood pressure and lower "good" HDL cholesterol. Chronic stress depressed the immune system = more vulnerable to disease

The link between stress and exercise, social support, and faith communities

Exercise reduces depression symptoms and can increase brain cells in the hippocampus

3 Phases of Seyle's general adaptation syndrome

alarm, resistance, exhaustion

A personalities vs B personalities

A - Competitive, super motivated, verbally aggressive, easily angered

B - easy going, laid back

A is more susceptible to heart attacks and immune system problems

Advantages of aerobic exercise for stress

provides outlet for negative emotions such as depression and anger

makes you feel better about yourself

improves blood flow to your brain helps you study and think

James-Lange Theory

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

Cannon-Bard Theory

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

Schachter-Singer Theory

A theory of emotion that states that both physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal must occur before an emotion is consciously experienced. (arousal + cognitive label - emotion)

Opponent-process theory of emotion

following a strong emotion, an opposing emotion counters the first emotion, lessening the experience of that emotion; on repeated occasions, the opposing emotion becomes stronger (emotion vs. other emotion)

Spillover effect

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

Highroad emotions

thalamus to brain cortex to amygdala, controlled responses to emotion

Lowroad emotions

from eyes/ears straight to the amygdala

Facial feedback effect

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

Cannon's fight-or-flight response

Increased heart rate, redistribution of blood to muscles and brain, deepening of respiration, dilation of the pupils, inhibition of gastric secretions, and increase in glucose released from the liver

Sympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations

Parasympathetic nervous system

the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy

Hormones involved in stress response

Serotonin - depression

Epinephrine - fear

Norepinephrine - anger

Tend-and befriend response

under stress, people (especially women) often provide support to others (tend) and bond with and seek support from others (befriend)

Lymphocytes and macrophages

The cells that are primarily responsible for immunity are

Catharsis

purification that brings emotional relief or renewal

Feel-good, do-good phenomenon

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

Optimistic explanatory style

believing negative events are temporary and specific

Pessimistic explanatory style

a tendency to explain bad events that happen in a self-blaming manner, viewing their causes as global and stable

Homeostasis

A tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Optimum performance usually comes from moderate arousal (Stress)• The more difficult the task, the "moderate"arousal needs to be less than if the task is easy

Approach-approach conflict

Conflict that results from having to choose between two attractive alternatives

Approach-avoidance conflict

One attractive option but it has negatives also

Avoidance-Avoidance conflict

Conflict that results from having to choose between two distasteful alternatives

Multiple approach-avoidance conflict

A conflict in which one must choose between options that have both many attractive and many negative aspects.