ECH - QUIZ 1

Emotion

biological theories that state that emotions evolved to solved specific problems in specific situations

Fear

when there is a threat

Sadness

when there is an irrevocable loss

Anger

when someone frustrates or demeans us

Disgust

when something is toxic or offensive

Joy

when we share something with another

Pride

when we accomplish something

Shame/guilt/embarrassment

when we have transgressed rules or expectations

Emotion

• universal, functional reaction to an external stimulus event, temporarily integrating physiological, cognitive, phenomenological, and behavioral channels to facilitate a fitness-enhancing, environment shaping response to the current situation (thoughts, experiences, behaviors)

• functional

• adaptions to the problems and physical survival - SOLUTIONS

Emotion vs mood

• emotions are context bound, time limited episodes (short time frame)

• moods are enduring, without specific boundaries (longer time frame)

• emotions have specific action tendencies and functionality (behaviors)

• moods are tied to more closely to affective traits, can be circadian/cyclical (can depend on time of day)

Moods

lasting longer, having fewer clear-cut causes, and being less associated with specific action tendencies

Basic emotion criteria

• fundamentally distinct from one another biologically determined distinct separate groups and periods

• criteria (disputed):

  • universal within our species, similar across cultures

  • facilitate a functional response to a specific, prototypical life event

  • built in way of expressing the emotion

    • through facial expressions or tone of voice (tone of voice harder to measure)

  • evident early in life (debated)

    • specific “behavioral signature”

  • cross - species evidence

What are the basic emotions?

• fear

• anger

• sadness

• disgust

• joy

• pride

positive emotions are harder to differentiate from one another - therefore less

Characteristics of emotions

• nonverbal signal/behavioral signature (e.g., facial or bodily expression — adapted over time and important)

• physiological changes/cardiovascular response (e.g., autonomic nervous system)

• motivated behavioral tendencies or “action tendencies”

• elicitors/antecedents: types of situations or other factors that typically cause or lead to the emotion

• influences: cognitive changes (e.g., cognitive appraisals of the situation, which are typically what elicit the emotion; planning; prioritizing goals; enhanced memory or attentional focus)

• sensory changes (e.g., heightened vision, smell)

Fear specific behavioral signatures

• facial expression

  • widening of eyes. open mouth raised or slanted eyebrows

• behavioral freezing + preparation for action

• sympathetic nervous activation

  • increased heart rate and blood flow

Fear Elicitors

• threats to self, survival

• situations that are unexpected, unpleaseant

• externally caused, and uncontrollable

• fear occurs more when you lack power

Fear influences

memory, attention, perception, learning

Fear today vs in the past

today can occur for anything

used to be for actual danger

Anger specific behavior signatures

• facial expression

  • lowering of the eyebrows, whites of eyes, compression of the mouth (internal or external baring of teeth)

• approach Behavior

• sympathetic Nervous Activation

  • increased heart rate, increased parasympathetic activity

Anger elicitors

• goal blockage (frustration-aggression hypothesis)

• situations that are unpleasant, unfair, and potentially changeable

Anger influences

agility, flexibility — helps us solve problems

Sadness specific behavioral signatures

• facial expression

  • lowering of the corners of the mouth, eyebrows slant to middle, chin comes up, eye contraction

• withdrawal behavior

• sympathetic nervous activation

  • decreased heart rate

Sadness elicitors

• loss

• situations appraised as unpleasant

• incompatible with goals

• caused by something external to the self

• feeling helpless

Sadness influences:

problem solving, deliberation, support from others

Disgust specific behavioral signatures

• facial Expression

  • upper lip raise, close or open mouth, widen eyes/constricted eyes

• avoidance behavior

• sympathetic nervous activation

  • decreased heart rate

Disgust elicitors

1. contamination risk

2. moral transgression

Disgust influences

sensory attunement, learning

heightened awareness

Joy specific behavioral signatures

• facial expression

  • raised corners of mouth, contracted eye, relaxed face

• approach behavior

• sympathetic nervous activation

  • increased HR,increased parasympathetic nervous activation

Joy elicitors

gain or success, rewards, especially social ones

Joy influences

• trust/relationship building, cognitive flexibility

Pride specific behavioral signatures

• bodily expression

  • erect stance, raised chest, and arm

• approach behavior

• sympathetic nervous activation

  • increased heart rate

Pride elicitors

personal accomplishment/recognition

Pride influence

social status/heirarchy

Shame/guilt/embarrassment specific behaviors

• bodily expression

  • head down, eyes lowered (avoid eye contact)

• sympatric nervous activation - unclear

Shame/guilt/embarrassment elicitors

public or private personal error or transgression Fail to live up to expectations

Shame/guilt/embarrassment influences

social status

Measurement on 3 dimensions

1. reported experience

2. psychological change

3. behavioral change

Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion

Stanley Schachter and Jerry Singer (1960’s) developed what is sometimes referred to as the “Two-Factor” Theory, as an alternative to the James-Lange theory. It does not contradict James- Lange but really speaks to the role of appraisal in determining one emotion from the next

ex: bridge study - interpret heart rate as attracted to leader but in reality it was a stress respinse to being scared because up higher on suspention bridge