pdf: Notes on Emotions, Stress, and Health Theory

Theories of Emotion

• Components of Emotion:

• Physiological arousal (e.g., heart pounding)

• Expressive behaviors (e.g., quickened pace)

• Conscious experience (e.g., thoughts, feelings)

Theories on Emotion Interaction:

• James-Lange Theory: Emotions are the awareness of physiological responses to stimuli. (Body's reaction comes first)

• Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotion-arousing stimuli trigger physiological responses simultaneously and independently.

• Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer): Emotions originate from physiological arousal combined with a cognitive label.

Emotion and the Autonomic Nervous System:

• Sympathetic Division: Mobilizes body for action (fight or flight).

• Parasympathetic Division: Calms body when the crisis passes.

Physiological Differences Among Emotions:

• Emotions like fear and joy can have similar physical responses but can be differentiated through brain activity and specific physiological responses (e.g., fear muscle tensing vs. joy facial muscles).

Expressed Emotion:

• Nonverbal cues: Body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions are vital for communicating emotions.

• Gender Differences in Emotion: Women often decode emotions better than men and report higher emotional responses.

Experienced Emotion:

• Fear: Adaptive response; learned through direct experience and observation.

• Anger: Evoked by perceived wrongs; expressing it can sometimes lead to more aggression.

• Happiness: Positive emotions lead to improved health outcomes; happiness can be influenced by social interactions.

Stress and Health:

• Stress Definition: A process involving appraisal and coping with perceived threats/challenges.

• Stress can positively mobilize immune functions short-term but can have adverse health effects if chronic.

The Stress Response:

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

1. Alarm Phase: Body initially reacts with physiological arousal.

2. Resistance Phase: Sustained physiological responses; coping.

3. Exhaustion Phase: Resources depleted, increased vulnerability to illness.

Related Health Risks:

• Coronary Heart Disease: Type A personality (competitive, aggressive) increases risk compared to Type B (easygoing).

• Stress and Illness: Stress negatively affects immune functionality leading to higher susceptibility to disease (e.g., colds, cancer).

• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI): Studies the link between psychological processes and immune system functioning.

Coping Strategies:

• Problem-Focused Coping: Directly addressing stressors (e.g., seeking solutions).

• Emotion-Focused Coping: Addressing emotional needs related to stress (e.g., seeking support).

• Influence of Control: Perceived control reduces stress reactions.

• Optimism: Correlates with better stress management and health outcomes.

Health Promotion Techniques:

• Aerobic Exercise: Proven to alleviate depression and stress while increasing overall health.

• Biofeedback and Relaxation Techniques: Effective for managing stress and improving physiological responses.

• Social Support: It is vital for reducing stress and improving health; close relationships contribute positively to emotional and physical well-being.

Conclusion:

• Emotions are fundamental to human experience, influencing both behavior and health. Understanding how emotional processes work can lead to better health outcomes and stress management.