lecture 12: theories of emotion

What is emotion according to Keltner & Gross (1999)?

Episodic, relatively short-term, biologically-based patterns of perception, experience, physiology, action, and communication that occur in response to specific physical and social challenges and opportunities.

How long do emotions typically last?

Emotions last seconds or minutes, not hours or days.

What are the components of emotion?

Physiological responses, appraisal, subjective feelings, expressive behavior, and action tendencies.

What are the three main theories of emotion?

1. Evolutionary 2. Appraisal 3. Psychological Constructionist.

What does the evolutionary approach to emotion emphasize?

Universality and functional adaptation of emotional expressions, based on Darwin's work.

According to evolutionary theory, why do emotions arise?

Emotions arise when we detect a threat to survival or an opportunity for reproduction.

What are the characteristics that make certain emotions 'basic'?

Universal expression, discrete physiology, presence in other primates, and automatic evaluations of the environment.

Who proposed six basic emotions that are universally recognized?

Paul Ekman.

What is the role of appraisal in emotion?

Emotions are determined by how an individual appraises their circumstances.

What are primary and secondary appraisals?

Primary appraisals are fast and innate; secondary appraisals are higher-order and learned.

How does psychological constructionism view emotions?

Emotions are not reactions but are constructed through categorization based on past experiences, culture, and context.

What are the dimensions of core affect according to psychological constructionism?

Valence (pleasant vs unpleasant) and activation (activated vs deactivated).

What might happen to emotional responses according to knowledge gained from individual experience?

Affect programs can change based on knowledge gained through individual experience.

What are some potential clinical implications of understanding core affect?

Conditions like alexithymia, anxiety, and depression.

In what context were participants' emotional ratings related to hunger?

Participants rated hunger and their pleasantness responses increased with hunger only when shown negative context images.

What does the constructionist approach to emotion suggest about emotional experiences?

Emotions are not inevitable consequences of genetics and do not have unique physiological fingerprints.