PSYC 100 Emotions 2/23/2005 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 2/23/2005 1 Theories of Emotion James-Lange ■ Each emotion has an autonomic signature 2/23/2005 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) 2/23/2005 Facial Feedback Model ■ Similar to James-Lange, but not autonomic signature; facial signature associated with each emotion. 2/23/2005 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 2/23/2005 Facial Expressions of Emotion ■ Right cortex—left side of face 2/23/2005 Emotions and Learning ■ But experience matters: research with isolated monkeys 2/23/2005 4 Culture and Display Rules ■ Public vs. private display of emotions Western vs. Asian cultures 2/23/2005 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 2/23/2005 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.) 2/23/2005 6.