lect16 PSYC1000 Human Emotion

Lecture 16: Introduction to Psychology - Human Emotion

Key Questions for Today

  1. What is an emotion?

  2. How do emotions emerge?

  3. What are some different types of emotions?

  4. Are you controlled by your emotions?

What are emotions

  • no set, good definition: emotions are states that involve physiological and psychological changes.

    • often expressed as "I know it when I feel it."

What do emotions do?

Functional Perspective

  • Management of Biological and Socio-Cultural Forces: Emotions regulate our biological impulses and social needs.

  • Motivation Signals: Emotions signal motivations (e.g., survival cues from fear).

Evaluating Emotions

  • Positive Emotions: Indicate satisfaction of motivational states.

  • Negative Emotions: Signal frustration of motivational states.

  • Functionality: Emotions act as motivators, integral to human action.

What Happens When We Feel?

  • Components of Emotion:

    • Bodily arousal (physiological activation)

    • Conscious experience (thoughts and perceptions)

    • Expressive behavior (motor responses and social expressions)

Theories of Emotion Emergence

  1. James-Lange Theory: Emotions result from physiological changes (Body precedes thoughts).

  2. Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and physiological reactions occur simultaneously.

  3. Schachter-Singer Theory: Emotions arise from physiological responses plus cognitive labeling.

Cognitive Appraisal

  • Zajonc's View: Some emotional reactions occur without cognitive appraisal (low road processing).

  • Lazarus's Contribution: Suggests cognitive functions can influence emotional responses even without conscious thought.

Types of Emotions

  • Emotion Valence: Refers to the positive or negative quality of emotions.

  • Arousal Level: Represents the energy or activation level tied to emotions.

Basic Human Emotions (Eckman)

  • Anger

  • Disgust

  • Fear

  • Happiness

  • Sadness

  • Surprise

Secondary Emotions

  • Description: Complex emotional states resulting from socialization.

  • Examples: Pride and shame.

  • Differences:

    • Guilt: Linked to moral transgressions, motivating reparative actions.

    • Shame: Linked to self-perception of being a bad person, motivating withdrawal.

Control Over Emotions

  • Emotional Regulation: Emotions do not control behavior; skills can be developed to manage emotions.

  • Skills for Regulation:

    • Awareness (emotional monitoring)

    • Appraisal (interpretation of emotions)

    • Coping strategies (e.g., mindfulness meditation)

Emotional Awareness

  • Understanding Emotions: Recognizing and labeling emotions is crucial for emotional intelligence.

Commonly Experienced Emotions

  • Proud, happy, surprised, peaceful, joyful, etc.

  • Negative emotions: shame, irritated, nervous, etc.

Appraisal Theories

  • Initial life events lead to emotional development through appraisal (how one views events changes feelings).

  • Importance of understanding that physiological changes may lag behind cognitive appraisals.

Coping Strategies in Emotion Regulation

  • Types: Problem-focused vs. emotion-focused coping.

  • Mindfulness: Non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of present experience, can help manage emotions.

Coping Effectiveness

  • Relying on external mechanisms (like substances) to cope can be detrimental: Alcohol myopia can lead to shortsighted decisions.

Understanding Anger

  • Nature of Anger: Often arises from perceived wrongs.

  • Catharsis Myth: The belief that venting anger (acting aggressively) helps; often counterproductive and leads to guilt.