Recording-2025-03-11T20:23:45.038Z

Components of Emotion

• Emotions consist of different components:

  • What elicits the emotion

  • Subjective experience of the emotion

  • Facial expressions associated with the emotion

  • Behaviors motivated by the emotion

Sequence of Emotional Components

• There is a traditional sequence perceived in emotions:

  • A stimulus occurs → Emotion is felt → Behavioral response follows

• This model has been challenged, particularly by early psychologist William James.

William James' Theory

• James proposed a different perspective on the sequence:

  • Behavioral response occurs first, followed by subjective experience.

  • Example: "We don't weep because we're sad; we're sad because we weep."

  • The physiological response/behavior is the leading indicator, not the emotional experience.

Cannon-Bard Theory

• Canon and Bard criticized James's sequence:

  • Proposed that the physiological response and emotional experience occur simultaneously in reaction to a stimulus.

  • Example: Seeing a snake leads to simultaneous fear and physiological reactions (e.g. increased heart rate).

Schachter's Attribution Theory

• In the 1960s, Daniel Schachter developed the attribution of arousal theory:

  • Sequence: stimulus → physiological arousal → context allows for emotional label assignment.

• Schachter's related study:

  • Focused on a tall, rickety suspension bridge and a low, sturdy bridge as contexts for emotional arousal.

The Bridge Experiment

• Participants (men) encountered an attractive female researcher on either bridge and were asked to complete a survey.

• Predictions:

  • Class speculation divided nearly evenly on whether more men would call the researcher after either bridge experience.

• Results:

  • Men were significantly more likely to call the experimenter after the tall rickety bridge encounter.

Explanation of the Results

• Interpretation of excitement:

  • Arousal from the height (sweaty palms, nervousness) was misattributed to attraction to the experimenter.

  • Context influences emotional labeling of physiological arousal.

Why Scary Experiences Attract Us

• The theory helps understand why people seek out thrilling or scary experiences (e.g. haunted houses, action movies).

• A strong attribution process can lead to positive feelings in risky situations, hence defining the thin line between thrilling and scary.

Positive Psychology Movement

• Recently, psychology has shifted from simply reducing negative emotions to enhancing positive emotions.

• Practice Recommendation: Journaling

  • Writing for 5-10 minutes daily on things you're grateful for has shown effectiveness in boosting positive emotions and an overall sense of well-being over time.