Chapter 3 Notes: Mood Swing and Social Affect

Chapter 3: Mood Swing and Social Affect

Overview

• Moods and Emotions in Our Social Lives
• Emotions, Stress, and Well-Being
• How to Feel Better: Coping With Negative Emotions

Affect

• Definition:
• Refers to the feelings experienced in everyday life;
• Expressed through moods and emotions.

Moods and Emotions in Our Social Lives

Emotions

• Characteristics:
• Brief and intense;
• Triggered reactions.
• Importance:
• Emotions are inherently social; they help us cultivate positive relationships (DeSteno & Salovey, 1996; Keltner & Haidt, 1999).
• Examples: love, anger, guilt, shame, jealousy, embarrassment.

Moods

• Characteristics:

• Longer-lasting;

• Less intense;

• May be untriggered.

• Impact on Well-being:

• Moods can influence overall happiness and well-being.

Affect and Cognition: Influence on Memory and Creativity

Impact on Memory

• Emotions affect memory encoding.
• Mood can influence memory recall.

Impact on Creativity

• Positive Emotions:
• Foster creativity; enhance idea generation.
• Ideas produced may not be more original but are abundant.
• Negative Emotions:
• Sadness, anger, and melancholy can also boost creativity, especially in engaging tasks, potentially leading to mood improvement.

A Brief Primer on Emotion

Definition

• Emotion:
• A state involving physiological changes, cognitive appraisals, subjective feelings, and action tendencies.
• Components of Emotion:
• Physiological changes;
• Cognitive processes;
• Action tendencies;
• Subjective feelings.

Emotion and the Brain

Amygdala

• Assesses danger and threat.
• Hyperactivation can heighten risk of depression and anxiety.

Cerebral Cortex

• Overrides amygdala; provides accurate situational information.

Types of Emotions

Secondary Emotions

• More cognitively based; complex feelings (e.g., love, guilt, pride).

Basic Emotions

• Arise from the autonomic nervous system; universal across cultures (e.g., anger, happiness, fear).

Understanding Stress

Definition

• Nonspecific bodily response to perceived threats or challenges.
• Leads to physiological and mental arousal.

Types of Stress

• Eustress: Positive stress.
• Distress: Negative stress.

Acute vs. Chronic Stress

• Acute: Short-term with definite endpoints.
• Chronic: Long-term arousal with perceived overwhelming demands.

Stress and the Autonomic Nervous System

• Components:
• Central Nervous System (CNS): Brain and neurons.
• Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): Transmits information.
• Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Regulates involuntary functions; includes:
  • Sympathetic Nervous System: Prepares body for action.
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body.

Autonomic Emotions and the Face

• Universal facial expressions for primary emotions (e.g., anger, happiness, fear).
• Distinction between social and genuine smiles (Duchenne smile).

Cultural Differences in Emotion

• Individualism: Western cultures value self-enhancing emotions (e.g., pride).
• Collectivism: Eastern cultures value other-oriented emotions (e.g., friendliness).

Measuring Stress Levels

• Instruments to measure daily stressors exist.
• Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale (1967): Lists life events likely to lead to stress.

Hans Selye: General Adaptation Syndrome

• Defined stress as physiological responses to threats.

Psychoneuroimmunology

• Studies stress effects on the immune system, linking psychological state to physical health risks (e.g., cancer, arthritis).

Stress and Health

• Chronic stress increases the likelihood of illnesses, including colds.

Coping Strategies for Negative Emotions

What Doesn’t Work

• Suppression and avoidance of emotions tend to fail and can lead to rebound effects.
• Extreme distractions, if self-destructive, are harmful.

What Helps

1. Opening Up:

• Expressing feelings through talking or writing improves health (Pennebaker).

1. Letting Go:

• Forgiveness helps lower physiological arousal and improves emotional health.

1. Self-Regulation:

• Managing behaviors and emotions is linked to personal success (Eisenberg & Fabes, 1992).

1. Goal Setting:

• Enhances motivation and perseverance in achieving desired outcomes.

Health Psychology Resources for Healthy Living

• Exercise: Reduces anxiety and improves health.
• Positive Beliefs: Enhance coping mechanisms and reduce anxiety.
• Social Skills: Foster better interpersonal interactions and reduce the likelihood of illness.
• Material Resources: Financial stability can ease stress.
• Sense of Humor: Helps in stress management and perspective.
• Relaxation Techniques: Biofeedback, progressive relaxation help manage stress.

Happiness and Control

• Happiness is influenced by a range of biopsychosocial factors.
• Human nature desires certainty; excessive control can decrease happiness.

Conclusion

• Awareness of social cognition, biases, and the impact of emotional regulation on well-being is crucial for understanding and improving emotional resilience.