PSYC1030 Week 7 Emotions & Non-verbal Communication

Defining Emotion and Mood

• Emotion Definition: A complex reaction pattern involving experiential, behavioural, and physiological elements used to deal with personally significant events.

• Components of Emotion:

  • Expressions: Visible signs like smiles or furrowed brows.

  • Physiological: Internal changes such as sweat, heart rate, and tear production.

  • Coping Behaviours: Actions like seeking comfort or running.

  • Cognitions: Labels or thoughts (e.g., "I am offended").

• Emotion vs. Mood: Emotions have a specific object or cause. Moods are dispositions that lack a specific object, last longer (hours to weeks), and often occur at a lower level.

• Evolutionary Perspective: Charles Darwin ($1870$) argued emotions are adaptive, motivating quick responses to stimuli to enhance survival.

Major Theories of Emotion

• Common Sense View: A stimulus triggers an experienced emotion, which then leads to physiological arousal.

• James-Lange Theory ($1885$): Physiological responses occur first. The emotion is the perception of these bodily changes ($\text{Snake} \rightarrow \text{Arousal} \rightarrow \text{Fear}$).

• Appraisal Theory: Emotions depend on the interpretation of a situation based on past experiences and goals.

• Dimensional Theory (Wundt; Russell, $1980$): Emotions are not categorical but exist on continuous dimensions of Valence (pleasant/unpleasant) and Arousal (high/low energy).

• Socio-Cultural Theory (Batja Mesquita): Emotions are socially constructed and learned through cultural interaction and language.

Facial Expressions and Emotion Recognition

• Basic Emotions Theory (Paul Ekman): Proposes $7$ innate, universal emotions: Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Surprise, Disgust, and Contempt.

• Facial Action Coding System (FACS): A tool created to measure distinct facial movements.

• Critique of Universality: Research in isolated groups (e.g., Trobriand Islands) suggests interpretation varies; for instance, Ekman's "fear face" was seen as threatening by some groups.

• Tears:

  • Intrapersonal: Limited evidence for "catharsis" or toxin release.

  • Interpersonal: Strong evidence as a universal social signal that increases empathy and support intentions across cultures (Zickfeld et al., $2021$).

Non-verbal Communication and Gestures

• Proxemics (Hall, $1966$): Interpersonal space divided into four zones:

  • Intimate: $0-50\,cm$

  • Personal: ~$1\,m$

  • Social: $1-4\,m$

  • Public: $4\,m+$

• Posture: Engagement is signaled by leaning forward and open posture (SOLER framework: Sit squarely, Open, Lean, Eye contact, Relaxed).

• Types of Gestures:

  • Emblems: Clear, standardized meanings (e.g., Thumbs-up).

  • Illustrators: Accompany and emphasize speech (e.g., showing size with hands).

  • Regulators: Maintain conversational flow (e.g., nodding or raising a hand).

  • Adaptors: Unconscious movements to manage stress (e.g., fidgeting).

• Emojis: Act as digital non-verbal cues, triggering emotional contagion and clarifying tone.

Deception and Lie Detection

• Human Accuracy: People generally detect lies at chance levels, approximately $54\%$ (Bond & DePaulo, $2006$).

• Behavioural Cues: Deception may involve increased eye contact, stillness (to avoid fidgeting), and speech disturbances.

• Theoretical Approaches:

  • Emotional: Deception leaks through micro-expressions.

  • Cognitive: Lying requires high mental effort, slowing speech.

  • Self-Presentation: Liars may over-control their bodies, appearing rigid.

• Othello Error: An observer mistakenly attributes the stress of an innocent person to the guilt of a liar.