PSYC 100 Emotions
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Emotion
■ Emotions reflect a “stirred up’ state ■ Emotions have valence: positive or negative ■ Emotions are thought to have 3 components: ß Physiological arousal ß Subjective experience ß Behavioral expression
Autonomic Arousal
■ Increased heart rate ■ Rapid breathing ■ Dilated pupils ■ Sweating ■ Decreased salivation ■ Galvanic Skin Response
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1 Theories of Emotion
James-Lange
■ Each emotion has an autonomic signature
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Assessment of James-Lange Theory of Emotion
■ Cannon’s arguments against the theory: ß Visceral response are slower than emotions ß The same visceral responses are associated with many emotions (Î heart rate with anger and joy). ■ Subsequent research provides support: ß Different emotions are associated with different patterns of visceral activity ß Accidental transection of the spinal cord greatly diminishes emotional reactivity (prevents visceral signals from reaching brain)
2 Cannon-Bard Criticisms
■ Arousal without emotion (exercise)
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Facial Feedback Model
■ Similar to James-Lange, but not autonomic signature; facial signature associated with each emotion.
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Facial Expression of Emotion
■ There is an evolutionary link between the experience of emotion and facial expression of emotion: ß Facial expressions serve to inform others of our emotional state ■ Different facial expressions are associated with different emotions ß Ekman’s research ■ Facial expression can alter emotional experience ß Engaging in different facial expressions can alter heart rate and skin temperature
3 Emotions and Darwin
■ Adaptive value ■ Facial expression in infants ■ Facial expression x-cultures ■ Understanding of expressions x-cultures
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Facial Expressions of Emotion
■ Right cortex—left side of face
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Emotions and Learning
■ But experience matters: research with isolated monkeys
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4 Culture and Display Rules
■ Public vs. private display of emotions Western vs. Asian cultures
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Cognitive Perspectives on Emotion
■ Plato: “reason must rein in the passions” ■ Schachter and Singer (1962): cognitive judgements are a critical part of emotional experience: ß Subjects are aroused by an injection of adrenaline and then exposed to anger or happiness cues ß The emotional cues played a prominent role in emotional experience
Schachter-Singer Experiment
■ Effects of vitamin on visual acuity ■ Confederate ■ Epinephrine ■ 4 conditions: epinephrine-informed epinephrine-misinformed epinephrine-ignorant placebo-ignorant
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5 Schachter-Singer Theory of Emotion
Dutton & Aron (1974)
■ In a large park ■ Two types of bridges (i. v.) ■ How many called interviewer? (d. v.)
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