Emotion Flashcards
Emotion
human experience involving: physical arousal, expression of arousal, conscious awareness of arousal, and cognitive labeling of arousal
Theories of emotion
-the differing perspectives on how physiological arousal associated with emotions, expressive behaviors which reflect emotions, and cognitive awareness of our emotions, interact in the total human experience of emotion
Evolutionary theory
- emotions have adaptive value which are necessary for survival
- emotions allow us to avoid danger/survive
- cognitive awareness and labeling of emotions evolve later
James-Lange theory
-William James and Carl Lang posited that emotions involve three factors: an external stimuli, a physiological arousal, and an interpretation of the physiological arousal as a specific emotion
Cannon-Bard theory
- sensory info is communicated to both emotional (limbic) and cognitive (cortex) centers
- we simultaneously experience both physiological arousal and subjective conscious awareness
Schachter-Singer 2-Factor theory
- external stimuli triggers physiological arousal
- there is a subjective, cognitive appraisal of the physiological arousal
- a variety of emotions can be experienced depending on a person’s mental status
- there is a spillover effect
Spillover effect
-influences how intensely we experience emotions and how we interpret what our emotions are
Opponent-Process (Solomon’s) theory
-an emotional reaction to a stimulus is accompanied by an opposite emotional reaction
Cognitive-Appraisal (Richard Lazarus’) theory
- emotional experience is the result of our cognitive interpretation of the situation
- conflicts with Evolutionary Theory
Autonomic Nervous System
- sympathetic nervous system: activates physiological arousal
- parasympathetic nervous system: lowers physiological arousal, pursues homoestatesis
Limbic system
- brain system associated with the physiological aspects of emotional experience
- comprised of: hypothalamus, amygdala, and hippocampus
Hypothalamus
- activates basic drives
- hunger, thirst, sex
Amygdala
-activates fear and aggression responses
Hippocampus
-essential for the formation of long-term memory
Emotional expression
- body language
- voice tone
- facial expression
Facial expression
- Paul Ekman: an american psychologist who studies emotions and their relation to facial expressions
- found that some facial expressions are innate and universal
- happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, anger, disgust, and contempt
Stress
- the manner in which individuals and communities perceive and respond to dynamics in their environments
- perceptions can be positive (eustress)
- or negative (distress)
Stressors
- anything that produces stress (positive or negative)
- common stressors are catastrophes, significant life events, or daily problems
Acute stress
- manifestation of symptoms of depression and anxiety
- lasting for a period of less than 3 months
- interfering with personal activities
Chronic stress
- manifestation of symptoms of depression and anxiety
- lasting for a period of 3 months or more
- causing sever personal distress
Immunodeficiency
- weakening of the immune system
- consequences of chronic stress
Stress-related disorders
- acute stress disorder ASD
- post-tramatic stress disorder PTSD
- malingering
- factitious
- psychosomatic
PTSD
- chronic and persistent stress episodes
- characterized by re-expereinceing the emotional impact of the original traumatic event
Malingering
-pretending to have an illness to avoid consequences
