Week 10 PSY10007 - Lecture and Module Videos - Emotions
Concise Version
Definitions of Emotion
Emotions are organized psychological and physiological reactions to stimuli, both external and internal.
External stimuli trigger emotions.
Internal stimuli, such as physiological experiences (stomachaches, pain) and mental realities (fantasies, thoughts), can trigger emotions.
Emotions are both inner/subjective experiences and objective/observable patterns of behavior and physiological arousal.
Subjective experiences: Individual awareness and ownership of the experience (e.g., feeling warmth during anger).
Objective experiences: Observable indicators (e.g., clenching fists as an indicator of anger).
David Zahavi's quote emphasizes that emotions are not just inner realities but also communicative gestures visible from the outside.
"Anger, shame, hate, love are not psychic facts hidden at the bottom of another's consciousness. They are types of behavior or styles of conduct which are visible from the outside. They exist on his face or in those gestures, not hidden behind them."
Brain Regions and Emotion
The limbic system is broadly involved in emotion.
The amygdala is central to emotional experiences.
Amygdala activation is associated with learning emotional words, recognizing emotional expressions, and expressing emotions.
Involved in control over emotions and emotional facial expressions.
Brain hemispheres contribute differently to emotion.
The idea of \"left brain\" (analytical) vs. \"right brain\" (emotional) has some truth, though it's an overgeneralization.
Hemispheres respond and contribute differently to emotional experiences.
Theories of Emotion
James-Lange Theory:
Emotions are created by our awareness of specific patterns of peripheral or autonomic nervous system responses.
Our perception of these responses determines our emotional experience.
Cannon-Bard Theory:
The brain generates direct experiences of emotion.
Evidence: Studies where cats with severed spinal cords still showed emotional experiences, suggesting emotions don't solely rely on afferent activity from the body.
Schachter-Singer Theory:
Emotional experiences are shaped by the cognitive interpretation of events and physiological reactions.
A combination of the James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories.
Lisa Feldman Barrett's "How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain" is recommended for further reading.
Communicating Emotion
Verbal communication: Using words to express feelings.
Example: Telling someone you are sad.
Nonverbal cues: Indicators of emotions detectable by others.
Body movement, posture, tone of voice, facial movements, and expressions.
Expressing Emotion
Innate Expressions of Emotion:
Darwin observed universal facial expressions.
Newborns show universal facial expressions indicating various emotions (e.g., grimacing in pain, smiling in response to pleasure).
Across cultures, people respond to similar emotional stimuli similarly.
Social and Cultural Influences:
Not all emotional expressions are innate; some are learned and can change based on social situations.
Innate expressions are flexible and modifiable.
Cultural variation in recognizing and expressing emotions.
Emotion culture or display rules: Rules governing appropriate emotions, circumstances, and expressions.
Families can have unique emotion cultures.
Psychotherapy can involve recognizing welcome and unwelcome emotions and addressing problems with emotional expression.
Evolution and Emotion
Emotions provide rapid answers to problems faced by organisms, aiding survival.
Fear allows organisms to respond to threats without conscious thought.
Emotions guide organisms into behavior conducive to survival.
Humans are "feeling machines that think."
Combining images with feelings of emotion allows for complex responses.
Humans can use reasoning, knowledge, and logic to construct responses different from emotional ones.
Curbing appetites demonstrates control over emotional responses.
Emotions are still present and accompany everything we do, even with the capacity for complex thought.
Humans have both the animalistic emotional world and a layer of complexity from rich minds and societal interactions.
Knowledge, logic, and reasoning allow for modified or new responses to emotions.
The shift from coercive power to the power of reason results in less violence.
The world is improving due to knowledge and reasoning countering basic emotional responses.
Detailed Version
Definitions of Emotion
Emotions are multifaceted responses to stimuli, incorporating psychological, physiological, and behavioral elements.
These reactions are triggered by both external events and internal states.
External stimuli encompass sensory inputs such as sights, sounds, and tactile experiences.
Internal stimuli include physiological conditions like hunger or pain, as well as cognitive processes such as memories and imaginings.
Emotions manifest as subjective experiences and objective behaviors.
Subjective experiences involve an individual's personal awareness of the emotion, including feelings and thoughts.
Objective experiences are observable expressions of emotion, such as facial expressions, body language, and physiological changes.
Physiological indicators include heart rate, skin conductance, and hormonal changes.
Emotions serve communicative functions, signaling internal states to others through observable behaviors.
Zahavi's quote suggests emotions are not hidden within but are expressed outwardly.
Facial expressions and gestures convey emotional states, facilitating social interaction and understanding.
Brain Regions and Emotion
The limbic system, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus, plays a crucial role in processing emotions.
The amygdala is central to experiencing and processing emotions.
It is involved in learning emotional associations, recognizing emotional expressions, and modulating emotional responses.
The amygdala facilitates rapid responses to potential threats or rewards.
Brain hemispheres contribute asymmetrically to emotional processing.
While the "left brain" vs. "right brain" dichotomy is an oversimplification, hemispheric specialization exists.
The left hemisphere is associated with processing positive emotions and inhibiting negative emotions.
The right hemisphere is associated with processing negative emotions and recognizing emotional cues.
Theories of Emotion
James-Lange Theory:
Emotions arise from the perception of physiological changes in the body.
According to this theory, emotional experience follows physiological arousal.
For example, we feel afraid because we tremble.
Cannon-Bard Theory:
Emotional experience and physiological arousal occur simultaneously.
The thalamus relays sensory information to both the cortex and the autonomic nervous system.
Evidence from studies on animals with severed spinal cords supports this theory.
Schachter-Singer Theory:
Emotional experience is the result of cognitive appraisal of physiological arousal and situational context.
Arousal is necessary but not sufficient for emotional experience; cognitive interpretation is crucial.
This theory emphasizes the role of attribution in shaping emotional responses.
Lisa Feldman Barrett's constructivist theory suggests emotions are actively constructed by the brain based on past experiences, current context, and physiological sensations.
Communicating Emotion
Verbal communication involves using language to express emotional states.
This includes explicitly stating feelings and describing emotional experiences.
Nonverbal cues are indicators of emotion conveyed through body language, facial expressions, and vocal tone.
Facial expressions such as smiles, frowns, and grimaces communicate specific emotions.
Body posture, gestures, and eye contact also convey emotional states.
Expressing Emotion
Innate Expressions of Emotion:
Darwin's work highlighted the universality of certain facial expressions, suggesting an evolutionary basis.
Newborns exhibit innate emotional expressions, such as crying in response to distress.
Cross-cultural studies have demonstrated consistency in the recognition and expression of basic emotions.
Social and Cultural Influences:
Emotional expressions are shaped by social norms, cultural values, and learning experiences.
Display rules dictate which emotions are appropriate to express in specific contexts.
Cultural differences exist in the intensity and frequency of emotional expressions.
Families can have unique emotional cultures that influence how emotions are expressed and regulated.
Psychotherapy can help individuals identify and address maladaptive patterns of emotional expression.
Emotional regulation involves strategies to modulate emotional experience and expression.
Evolution and Emotion
Emotions have evolved to facilitate adaptive responses to environmental challenges.
Emotions such as fear and disgust promote survival by triggering avoidance behaviors.
Emotions guide decision-making and social interactions.
The capacity for complex thought allows humans to override or modify emotional responses.
Knowledge, logic, and reasoning enable individuals to make decisions that are not solely based on emotional impulses.
The shift from coercive power to the power of reason promotes cooperation and reduces violence.
Understanding emotions can lead to greater self-awareness and improved relationships.
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