Chapter_11_Book

Page 1: The Case of S.M. and the Hazards of Fearlessness

  • Fear and Its Importance

  • Gandhi's Quote: "Fear has its use, but cowardice has none".

  • Heroes are not truly fearless; they function despite fear.

  • Some individuals, like S.M., do not experience fear due to a rare genetic disorder (Feinstein et al., 2011).

  • S.M.

  • S.M. lost the ability to feel fear post-childhood.

  • Fewer than 300 reported cases of this disorder.

  • Lack of fear shown in behaviors like approaching a knife-wielding robber, potentially dangerous situations (Aschwanden, 2013).

  • Physiological Responses

  • Typical emotional responses have physiological components mediated by the sympathetic nervous system.

  • S.M. exhibits minimal physiological responses typical to fear; e.g., very little startle response, inability to perceive fear in others (L. F. Barrett, 2018).

  • Social and Behavioral Consequences

  • S.M. does not notice or react to potential risks in social settings, making her an easy target for scams (D. P. Kennedy et al., 2009).

  • Close conversational distance with others; candid communication style leads to fewer long-term friendships.

  • Chapter Overview

  • Discussion on physiological and behavioral processes involved in emotional states.

  • Explore fear and aggression: important emotional themes linked to survival, studied in both humans and animals.

  • Conclude with stress impacts on neural function.

Page 2: Theories of Emotion

  • Emotional Perception and Display

  • Key topics: dominant theories relating emotion with physiological changes.

  • Emotions encompass subjective feelings, behaviors, and physiological changes.

  • Explore links between physiological reactions and emotional experiences (James-Lange theory vs. Cannon-Bard theory).

  • Emotion Definition

  • Subjective mental state linked to cognition, behaviors, and physiological changes.

  • Autonomic nervous system reactions evident in emotions:

    • Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares body for action (fight or flight).

    • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Prepares body to relax.

  • Theoretical Models

  • Various theories seeking to explain emotional experiences:

  • James-Lange Theory: Emotions occur as a result of physiological changes in the body.

  • Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotion and physiological response occur simultaneously.

  • Schachter-Singer Theory: Emotions depend on cognitive attribution of physiological arousal.

Page 3: The Autonomic Response and Theories of Emotion

  • James-Lange vs. Cannon-Bard Theory

  • James-Lange: Bodily changes cause emotional experiences.

  • Cannon-Bard: Simultaneous emotional and bodily responses as a result of stimuli.

  • Evidence Against James-Lange Theory

  • Lack of distinct physiological patterns linked to specific emotions (e.g., anger, fear).

  • Physiological responses can be slow (Cannon and Bard; 1929).

  • Schachter and Singer's Two-Factor Theory

  • Emotional labels based on non-specific physiological arousal.

  • Contextual factors can influence emotional attribution, illustrated through experiments.

Page 4: Emotional Context and Attribution

  • Schachter and Singer's Experiment

  • Participants injected with epinephrine; some informed of effects.

  • Emotional experiences varied based on cognitive assessment and surrounding context.

  • Participants’ emotions aligned with context and confederate (angry vs. happy).

  • Conclusion from the Experiment

  • Emotional experiences consist of both physiological responses and cognitive context assessment.

  • Autonomic arousal increases emotional intensity but does not explain varied emotional experiences.

Page 5: Aggression and Physiological Response

  • Basic Understanding of Aggression

  • Aggression can be proactive or reactive, heavily influenced by hormonal changes (e.g., testosterone).

  • Brain activity linked to various neurotransmitter systems, crucial for aggression regulation (dopamine, GABA, serotonin).

  • Inducing Aggression in Animals

  • Studies on intermale aggression in species: link between testosterone levels and aggressive behaviors.

  • Maternal aggression observed in response to the threat of young.

Page 6: Emotions in Society

  • Facial Expressions and Cultural Influence

  • Facial expressions convey emotions, showing similarities across cultures.

  • Significant cross-cultural agreements on basic emotions (Ekman and Keltner studies).

  • Cultural influences impact emotional expression and interpretation of physical expressions (Crivelli et al., 2016).

Page 7: Emotions and Associated Mechanisms

  • Neural Mechanisms of Emotion

  • The limbic system is crucial for emotional behavior and learning; includes the amygdala and other brain structures.

  • Klüver-Bucy Syndrome: Results from amygdala damage; characterized by taming effects but loss of aggression or fear.

Page 8: The Amygdala's Role in Fear

  • Fear Conditioning

  • Classical conditioning and its association with fear responses; the amygdala plays a pivotal role.

  • Sensory information about fear passes through the thalamus, leading to immediate emotional reactions (low road) or conscious processing (high road).

Page 9: Assessing Emotion Through Expressions

  • Basic Emotions

  • Investigate the categorization of basic emotions with associated facial expressions; explore differences among cultures in understanding facial cues.

Page 10: Stress and the Human Experience

  • Physiological Stress Responses

  • Stress affects various bodily systems, including hormonal responses, neurological circuits, and immune functions.

  • Impacts of chronic stress: inhibiting immune responses and leading to various health problems.

Page 11: Stress Immunization

  • Childhood Stress and its Long-term Effects

  • Early experiences influence adult stress responses; the role of comfort and maternal behavior.

  • Health Impacts: Emotional and social factors associated with physical health and disease resistance.

Page 12: The Interconnection of Systems

  • Psychoneuroimmunology: Studies interactions between psychological factors, immune systems, and health outcomes.

  • Chronic vs. Acute Stress Effects: Prolonged stress leads to negative health impacts, including susceptibility to mental disorders.

Page 13: Managing Stress

  • Strategies for Stress Reduction

  • Methods like mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) focus on awareness and relaxation to combat stress impacts.

  • Emphasize importance of coping strategies to mitigate stress effects in life.

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