CHAPTER 9

Emotion & Motivation

Emotion

defined as a subjective mental state that is usually accompanied by distinctive behaviors as well as involuntary physiological changes.

Aspects of emotions:

1. feelings

2. physiological arousal

What causes emotions?

• James-Lange Theory

• Cannon-Bard

• Schachter-Singer

James-Lange Theory

proposes our subjective emotional experience is the consequence of a specific physiological arousal pattern

• A study examining where people felt certain emotions showed a great deal of consistency across cultures

  • supports James-Lange Theory

Cannon-Bard Theory

proposes a stimulus triggers both our subjective emotional experience and a specific physiological arousal pattern

Schachter-Singer Theory

proposes our subjective emotional experience is the consequence of a specific physiological arousal pattern and our interpretation of that pattern

Emotions & the Brain

• Many of the same brain areas are activated by multiple emotions, so it appears that there is no obvious pattern that leads to one particular emotional state

• Modern view emphasizes the impact of any one process on the others

• we also know that there are two pathways that compute emotion

  • fast pathway

  • slow pathway

Fast Pathway

goes directly to the amygdala

Slow Pathway

gets additional reasoning through cortex, can override fast pathway

Showing Your Emotions

• Ekman says there are 6 distinctive expressions… universality hypothesis

• But culture can regulate how we express emotion- display rules

  • Duchenne and the Duchenne Smile

Duchenne

Duchenne tried to study the musculature responsible for the expression of different emotions… and recreate them using electrical stimulation

Duchenne Smile

Duchenne Smile

genuinely expressed emotion, engages orbicularis oculi

• Fake smile: no crows feet (or lots of botox)

Empathy

• Expressing emotions is communicative- we can use these expressions to signal others

• Empathy is the ability to accurately track what others are feeling

• As discussed previously, empathy is an important part of emotional intelligence

Framington Heart Study & Spreading Emotions

• Framington Heart Study looked at over 5000 individuals from one town over 40 years

• Examined ‘happiness’ component of Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale

• Larger clusters than chance

Motivation

the purpose for or psychological cause of an action

Emotions can help motivate us

• emotions help us navigate the world

• hedonic principle

• orbitofrontal cortex

• homeostasis

• approach and avoidance motivation

Hedonic Principle

The hedonic principle has been around since ancient times, and suggests we are motivated to increase our pleasure and avoid pain

Orbitofrontal Cortex

Lack of emotional responses following damage to orbitofrontal cortex can make it very hard to make decisions

Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the process of keeping an equilibrium

• When that balance is out of alignment, it can generate a drive to restore

Approach and Avoidance Motivation

• Approach motivation to get a positive outcome

• Avoidance motivation to avoid a negative outcome (more powerful)

Hunger

• How do we know when we are hungry? Two competing signals (orexigenic and anorexigenic) battle out in the hypothalamus!

• Our desire to eat is also signaled by other cues.

• In contrast to just wanting to maintain our current weight, our bodies were designed to get pleasure from food… positive incentive theory.

Sex

• Another key motivator for humans is sex

• Sexual response function differs for males and females

• While we consider sex a basic motivator, there are actually many reasons that people engage in sex

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

• Intrinsic motivation occurs when actions themselves are rewarding, drive comes internally

• Extrinsic motivation occurs when we complete actions to achieve rewards (or avoid punishment), drive comes from external sources

Willpower

your ability to engage in self-control