AP Psychology - Unit 4.8 Emotion

Emotion

also known as “affect”

a complex psychological process that involves a variety of physiological responses;

• bodily arousal

• expressive behaviors

• conscious experiences

• feelings

James-Lange Theory

Stimulus —> Physiological Response —> Emotion

• feelings follow the body’s responses

Cannon-Bard Theory

Stimulus —> Physiological Response AND Emotion

• bodily responses and experienced emotions occur separately but simultaneously

Schachter-Singer Two Factor Theory

Stimulus —> Cognitive Label of Physiological Response —> Emotion

• physical reactions and thoughts (perceptions, memories, and interpretations) together create emotion

Facial-Feedback Hypothesis

• states that facial expressions can influence emotional experiences

• muscle movements send signals to the brain

• supports the idea that physiological reactions might shape a person’s understanding of how they feel

Zajonc-Ledoux Theory

Stimulus —> Emotion —> Cognition OR Stimulus —> Cognition —> Emotion

• states that people’s emotional reactions are separate from their cognitive interpretations

• life threatening stimulus creates emotion first then cognitive response

• non-life threatening stimulus creates cognitive response then an emotion

Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Stimulus —> Cognitive Label of Stimulus —> Emotion AND Physiological Response

• focuses on how individuals’ interpretations of events determine their emotional and physiological responses

• emotions result from evaluations

• emphasizes the role of thought processes in shaping emotional reactions

Common Sense Theory

Stimulus —> Emotion —> Physiological Response

• when an individual encounters an external stimuli, an emotional reaction occurs first

• the psychological response causes a physiological reaction

• rejected by most psychologists

Broaden-And-Build Theory

positive emotions will expand (broaden) an individual’s awareness, opening their mind to new experiences and ideas

negative emotions will narrow a person’s mind and focus

• “build:” focuses on how emotions help construct personal resources

Display Rules

• social guidelines that inform an individual on when, where, and how it’s okay to show certain emotions

• change depending on the situation

• set by culture

Elicitors of Emotions

events, situations, or stimuli that trigger an emotional response from an individual

impacted by a person’s;

• culture

• sex

• age

• socioeconomic status