Emotion and Well-Being

Flashcards covering key concepts related to emotion and well-being, including theories of emotion, the neurobiology of emotions, and factors influencing happiness.

Emotion

the coordinated behaviors, feelings, and physiological changes occur when a situation becomes relevant to our goals.

Display rules

cultural rules that govern the expression of emotions in social contexts.

discrete emotions approach

an approach to analyzes emotions that focuses on specific emotions such as anger, fear, and pride.

dimensional approach

An approach to analyzing emotions that focuses on dimensions such as pleasantness and activation.

Subjective Experience

Internal thoughts and feelings that accompany emotions.

Alexithymia

an extreme difficulty in identifying and expressing emotions.

happiness set point

The level of happiness that is characteristic of a given individual.

Expressive Behavior

Facial expressions and vocalizations that convey emotional states.

Bodily Arousal

Physiological activation preparing the body for action in response to stimuli.

Amygdala

A brain structure involved in rapid emotional responses, particularly to fearful stimuli.

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region involved in the modulation and regulation of emotional responses.

James-Lange Theory

The theory stating that physiological arousal precedes emotional experience.

Cannon-Bard Theory

The theory stating that physiological arousal and emotional experience occur simultaneously.

Schachter-Singer Theory

The theory suggesting that physiological arousal is interpreted, leading to conscious emotional experience.

Empathy

The capacity to accurately track what others are feeling.

affect-as-information perspective

The idea that affective states play an important role in shaping problem-solving and decision making.

self-control

The attempt to modify automatic or “default” responses in a particular situation.

Misattribution of Arousal

When physiological arousal is incorrectly attributed to an emotion, affecting perceptions of attraction.

Universal Emotions

Emotions that are universally recognized, including fear, happiness, disgust, anger, surprise, and sadness.

Happiness

A state of well-being characterized by positive emotions and life satisfaction.

Hedonic Adaptation

The tendency to return to a stable level of happiness after experiencing changes in circumstances.

Positive Affect

The extent to which an individual experiences positive moods.

Negative Affect

The extent to which an individual experiences negative moods.

Self-Acceptance

Acknowledgment and acceptance of oneself as a person, important for happiness.