PSYC*4750 (Motivation & Emotion Lecture 1)

Human Behavior is

motivated by physical,

psychological, and social needs

seek outcomes that we need/want

Human Behavior

Human behavior results form a willingness

/urge/drive to expend effort (work) to obtain such

outcomes.

Prioritization is to

satisfy motivational states, priority must be given to some thoughts

and actions over others.

When prioritizing food, how is emotion/evaluation involved

1: nice or nasty?

2: approach or avoid?

When prioritizing food, how is attention involved?

1: Is it task relevant?

2: Does it facilitate or suppress the prioritization

Motivation is that which

gives energy and direction to behavior.

1: Arousal / Urge / Drive

2: Goals / Intentions / Plans of action

3: Seeking / Avoiding

These are all involved in

Motivation

Emotion is a process which evaluates the

significance of events with respect to important goals.

Emotion is a means of

communicating with others

In the emotional theory, the answer to the question of “Is emotion expression”{ is that

Emotion has evolved to transmit social / biologically-relevant

signals

In the emotional theory, the answer to the question of “Is emotion an action tendency” was found by Dewey in 1895 and is that

-emotions are states of readiness to act in

certain ways

- approach, avoidance, domination, submission

In the emotional theory, the answer to the question of “Is emotion a bodily reaction”, the answer was found by James–Lange (1884/1885) and states that it is a

Physiological response that precedes emotion:

Bodily reactions elicit emotions in consciousness

and are consequently primary to other

emotional components

James Lange on “Is emotion a bodily reaction”

Who said “My theory... is that the bodily changes follow

directly the perception of the exciting fact, and

that our feeling of the same changes as they

occur IS the emotion” in regards to emotion being a bodily response

William James, 1884

In emotion theory, Cannon–Bard (1927/1928) believed that with emotions

bodily reactions do not cause the emotion elicitation,

because they lack specificity

similar bodily reactions accompany very

different emotions, as well as other

non-emotional states.

Cannon–Bard (1927/1928) on emotions and bodily reactions

Discrete emotions are when

Each emotion has its own ‘essence’

Corresponds to a unique combination of

subjective experience, physiology, and

behaviour.

Discrete emotions

Discrete emotions should be universal because they are

1: Both experienced and recognized across

cultures, backgrounds etc.

2: Homologous in other animals

Discrete emotions should be measurable via

behavior

(e.g., facial movements) and physiology

What is included in the basic emotions?

1: Fear

2: Anger

3: Disgust

4: Sadness

5: Joy

6: Interest

What are the two themes of the basic emotions

Negative emotions & Positive Emotions

What are the negative emotions on the basic emotions

Threat & Harm

What are the positive emotions in the basic emotions

Motive Involvement and satisfaction

What are the Self-Conscious Emotions

1: Shame

2: Guilt

3: Embarrassment

4: Triumph

5: Pride

What are the Cognitively Complex

Emotions

1: Envy

2: Guilt

3: Disappointment

4: Regret

5: Schadenfreude

6: Empathy

7: Compassion

What is the problems with emotion and emotional facial expression charts?

- Not as universal, specific, or consistent as it

should be.

- Lots of variability.

We are on number 22