psych 100 exam 2 emotions and motivation

emotion

• temporary state accompanied by a subjective feeling and physiological activity

• prepares people for action

self-report

how we study emotions

dimensions of emotion

• arousal and valence

• work well across cultures

arousal

energy/strength of feeling

valence

positive/negative feeling

appraisal

• conscious/unconscious evaluate emotionally-relevant aspects of a stimulus/event

• based on multiple dimensions

  • relevance, control

action tendencies

• readiness to engage in emotion-relevant behavior

james-lang theory

perceive external stimulus → physiological arousal → emotion

autonomic nervous system

• communicates with internal organs

• controls physiological arousal

sympathetic ANS

• increases heart rate, breathing, blood pressure; handles fight/flight situations

• arousal

parasympathetic ANS

• reduces heart rate, breathing blood pressure, relaxation and healing

measuring arousal

• galvanic skin response: measures skin conductance (sweat)

• pulse rate

• breathing rate

james-lang issues

• body state can change without emotional reaction

• not all emotions have their own unique response

• emotion first, body response later

cannon-bard theory

• stimulus → emotion & physiological arousal independently

cannon-bard issues

• physiological reactions and emotions often interact with each other

two-factor theory

• stimulus → context-dependent labeling & physiological arousal → emotion

• we make inferences about our emotions based on situational factors

two-factor theory issues

• assumes all types of arousal are physiologically the same

thalamus

• main relay between senses & cortex/subcortical structures

amygdala

processes fear and uncertainty

fast pathway (fear)

senses → stimulus → hits thalamus → straight to amygdala

slow pathway (fear)

• senses → stimulus → hits thalamus → processed by cortex → amygdala

emotional expression

• outward observable sign of inner emotional state

facial feedback

• adopting facial expressions can induce associated emotions

• mimicry makes convo feel better

motivation

• why of behavior

• intrinsic/extrinsic

• biological/psychological

instincts

• innate tendency to seek particular goals

• pre-behaviorism

homeostasis

• a system’s effort to keep itself in equilibrium

• behaviorist explanation of instinctual actions

drives

• a state of arousal caused by a biological need

• behaviorist explanation of instinctual actions

drive-reduction theory

• all organisms share a common motivation to reduce their drives

• behaviorist explanation of instinctual actions

hedonic principle

• ppl are motivated to experience pleasure and avoid pain

hierarchy of needs

• need for self-actualization

  • pursuing passion, sense of purpose

• esteem needs

  • social status, self-esteem

• belongingness and love needs

  • affection, friends/family, trust

• safety and security needs

  • physical, emotion, financial

• psychological needs

  • food, sleep, air, water

biological motivations

• food, oxygen sleep, sex

• hypothalamus regulation

psychological motivations

• anything other than what we need for survival

intrinsic motivation

• wanting to take actions that are, by themselves, rewarding

• good player award example

  • intrinsic motivation undermined

extrinsic motivation

• wanting to take actions that are not, by themselves, rewarding but lead to a future reward

• marshmallow test example

approach motivation

• wanting a good outcome

avoidance motivation

• avoiding a bad outcome

loss aversion

• humans are more motivated to avoid a loss than to achieve an equal gain

promotion focus

primarily wanting to achieve gains

prevention focus

primarily wanting to avoid losses