Constructionist Theories of Emotion

Question 1

What is constructionist theories?

Answer 1

• Emotions are caused be their manifestation, their components
• Physiological response before emotion
• Labelling can act as mediator

Question 2

James- Lange Theory

Answer 2

Emotions are constructed out of our bodily reaction
- Heaviness in my stomach; scared, anxious, pain?
- Cognitive evaluation of the perception of feeling comes after the emotion
- Emotional experience depends on the bodily responses

Question 3

Can we have emotion without bodily feelings?

Answer 3

• James; Its not possible
• Psychopathy
  Extremely insensitive to emotional cues
• Apathy
  Depression
  Schizophrenia

Question 4

James Russel - How are emotions made

Answer 4

Evaluated in the context
- A wheel consisting of activation/deactivation (arousal) and pleasure/displeasure (valence)
- Stimuli before emotion

Question 5

James Russel - what are emotions

Answer 5

• Built on the blocks arousal and valence (core affect)

Question 6

James Russel - Example

Answer 6

High activation, low valence (unpleasant experience) = upset or tense
High pleasure but low activation = calm or content

Question 7

What is the Emotion Paradox?

Answer 7

Humans believe emotion exists as natural-kind entities, but no research support it strong enough to prove it
- No universality in emotional expression
(Barret)

Question 8

What offers Barret as two possible solution to the paradox?

Answer 8

• Find better methods
  Research focusing on this, not going too well
• Conceptual Act Model

Question 9

Lisa Barret - Conceptual Act Model

Answer 9

• Emotions are not biologically given
• Process of categorization, from our previous experiences
• Emotions = predictions

Question 10

What is Barret’s criticism against basic emotion theories?

Answer 10

• Emotions are not hard-wired
• No distinct emotional pattern in the brain
• Emotions cannot be detected through facial expression or physiological measurement
• No universal emotions

Question 11

Barret - Language effect on emotions

Answer 11

• Verbal labelling
• How we experience emotions is affected by how we label it

Question 12

Emotional Granularity

Answer 12

Being able to label feelings with precision and specificity
- Group level; poor E.G predicts poor mental health

Question 13

Criticism to constructionist theories

Answer 13

• Too much focus on the context
• No universal rules, then how can we often accurately interpret others emotional expression? (Prototypical Emotions Episodes)