L3.A functions of emotion

Question 1

How do we know that emotions are functional [list 2 main reasons]

Answer 1

• consequences of emotional deficits

- benefits of emotional intelligence

Question 2

What is the main function of emotion for the individual?

Answer 2

basic survival

Question 3

What is the main function of emotion for the dyad?

Answer 3

Communication

Question 4

What is the main function of emotion for the group?

Answer 4

Social Coordination

Question 5

What are the consequences of emotional deficits/impairments? [describe/list]

Answer 5

• atypical emotion / emotion development
• poor life outcomes: bad choices, limited social engagement, failure of economic viability
• ineffective behavioural regulation
• Impairments in identifying facial expressions assoc w/antisocial behaviour

Question 6

Which conditions can contribute to emotional deficits? [list/examples]

Answer 6

• autism
• brain lesions
• parkinsons
• dementia
• childhood maltreatment

Question 7

Emotional intelligence [define]

Answer 7

Capacity to pay attention to and understand ones own emotions and those of others, and use those emotions to guide behaviour and decisions

Question 8

Abilities/tendencies of high emotional intelligence [describe]

Answer 8

• attend more to emotions
• interpret own/others emotions accurately
• make choices with positive outcomes

Question 9

(Individual) Classic study: When an individual is expressing fear (wide eyes), which changes are noted?

Answer 9

• larger vis field
• faster eye movements
• inc in nasal volume and air velocity

Question 10

(Dyad) Classic study: When observing another individual expressing fear (wide eyes), which changes are noted in the observer?

Answer 10

• more accurate gaze discrimination
• faster gaze discrimination
• faster target detection

Question 11

(Individual) How does the fear (wide eyes) classical study provide evidence for the adaptive/survival functions of emotions? i.e. what is the main finding?

Answer 11

Facial expressions of fear enhance sensory acquisition (adaptive)

Question 12

(Dyad) How does the fear (wide eyes) classic study provide evidence for the communicative/adaptive function of emotions? i.e. what is the main finding?

Answer 12

Facial expressions of fear tell OTHERS about the environment (adaptive)

Question 13

Which nervous system regulates arousal?

Answer 13

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Question 14

Which nervous system (within the ANS) produces arousal and is dominant during periods of psychological stress/arousal?

Answer 14

Sympathetic nervous system

Question 15

Which nervous system (within the ANS) inhibits arousal and is dominant during periods of calmness/safety?

Answer 15

Parasympathetic nervous system

Question 16

During sadness, is there greater sympathetic or parasympathetic NS activity?

Answer 16

parasympathetic

Question 17

What does Polyvagal Theory attempt to explain? [describe]

Answer 17

how the ANS links physiological states of emotion with adaptive functional behaviour

Question 18

Polyvagal Theory (Porges) [define/describe]

Answer 18

• evolution-based theory
• Vagus nerve – major PNS pathway brain/body
• Vagus evolved to mediate functionally distinct behavioral and biological outcomes
• ANS evolved in mammals in 3 global stages

Question 19

3 global stages involved in Polyvagal Theory [list]

Answer 19

1. immobilization (freeze) system
2. mobilization (fight/flight) system
3. social communication (facial expression) system

Question 20

How does the vagus nerve evolve with each stage of the Polyvagal Theory? [describe]

Answer 20

1. Immobilization
   - Unmyelinated vagus – slow
2. Mobilization
   - Sympathetic NS – fast and vigorous behaviour
3. Social communication
   - Myelinated vagus – counteracts sympathetic stimulation of heart, quiets HPA axis (cortisol secretion)

Question 21

Are individuals with a highly responsive vagus nerve to the environment more or less socially sensitive (according to Polyvagal Theory)?

Answer 21

more socially sensitive

Question 22

What does the Cognitive theory of emotion (Oatley & Johnson-Laird, 1987) state about the relationship between emotions and goals?

Answer 22

emotion regulates goal pursuit/management/adjustment

Question 23

How do emotions regulate goal management? [describe]

Answer 23

• juncture – interruption of current goal/activity triggers emotion
• specific emotions occur when specific goals (universal, repetitive) are interrupted
• consc/unconsc awareness that a behaviour requires adjustment
• emotion reorganizes/redirects activity in service of new goal/coping
• emotion causes transition to subsequent state
• states have beneficial behavioural tendencies

Question 24

What does the ‘Broaden and Build’ Theory of positive emotions attempt to explain? [describe]

Answer 24

• Action tendencies of emotion promote the selective responses that result in a broadening of cognitive and behavioural responses
• positive emotions help individual respond to opportunities to thrive

Question 25

According to the broaden and build theory of positive emotions, which cognitive and behvioural changes are noted when an individual is in a positive state? [describe]

Answer 25

- expansion of visual attention focus | - broader bodily movements

Question 26

When measuring breadth of attention on 'global-local' items, do individuals in a positive state have broad or narrow attentional focus? and which item do they focus on more (global or local focus)?

Answer 26

o Broad attentional focus - > global o Narrow attention -> local focus o Amusement and contentment -> broad attention response

Question 27

(dyad) Which classic study demonstrates that the communicative function of emotions appears early in development in humans?

Answer 27

The Visual Cliff experiment

Question 28

(Dyad) What was the main finding of the visual cliff experiment? [describe]

Answer 28

Baby interprets ambiguous stimulus in accordance with mothers signal (emotional expression) o Happy mother – infant crosses o Fearful mother – infant doesn’t cross

Question 29

(Dyad) what is meant by 'facial expressions are behaviour regulators'? [describe]

Answer 29

- Communicate punishment + reward, guide behaviour

Question 30

Which form of conditioning enables facial expressions to function as behaviour regulators?

Answer 30

Operant conditioning

Question 31

(dyad) Name the 3 different functions of smiles

Answer 31

1. reward 2. affiliation 3. dominance

Question 32

(dyad) How do smiles serve a reward function?

Answer 32

- reward self/other for pleasurable/adaptive behaviour | - increase the probability of initial smile-eliciting event/exp to occur again

Question 33

(dyad) how do smiles serve an affiliation function?

Answer 33

- forge/maintain social bonds | - Lips over teeth – don’t want to communicate aggression

Question 34

What are the 3 subcategories of an 'affiliation' smile? [list]

Answer 34

polite, embarrassed, greeting

Question 35

(dyad) how do smiles serve a dominance function?

Answer 35

- negotiate social hierarchies - Show + maintain perceived social/moral status - Displays of contempt, derision, pride - Convey/elciti neg feelings

Question 36

(dyad) why are infant cries considered functional?

Answer 36

they elicit a caretaking response in others (usually mothers) o Inc activity in maternal behaviour o Activated neural circuitry for empathy

Question 37

(dyad) What is the main point of social functional theories, regarding emotions?

Answer 37

Each emo serves distinct social finc – communicate relationship, needs, demands

Question 38

(dyad) according to social functional theories - which social function does sadness serve/elicit?

Answer 38

signals for support and care

Question 39

(dyad) according to social functional theories - which social function does anger serve?

Answer 39

bargaining tool, resolve conflicts in own favour

Question 40

(dyad) according to social functional theories - which social function do desire, love, and compassion serve?

Answer 40

creation/maintenance of social bonds .. reproductive success

Question 41

(dyad) what 2 elements does the success of using anger as a bargaining tool depend on?

Answer 41

o Depend on ability to inflict costs + withhold benefit

Question 42

(group) within social coordination, how is emotion used within groups? [list 4]

Answer 42

- group formation - bringing group members back into line - group governance - collective action

Question 43

(group) how do emotions function in group formation? [describe]

Answer 43

- shared emotional states (positive or negative) increase cohesion and identification

Question 44

(group) how do emotions function in intergroup settings? [describe]

Answer 44

- sharply define between in-group and outgroup | - emotions can create/define group boundaries

Question 45

(group) how do emotions function in bringing group members back into line? [describe]

Answer 45

- Public shaming rituals – remind individual and other group members to conform to group norms - Shame stimulates behaviour that leads to acceptance by group - Shame stimulates behaviour that flees group rejection - Behaviour – agreeing w/group norm - Thus, stimulation group cohesion

Question 46

(group) how do emotions function in group governance? [describe]

Answer 46

- Groups (imp/exp) produce hierarchy of individuals/subgroups - different emotions are used to maintain/distinguish levels of the hierarchy

Question 47

(group) whithin the group hierarchy, what function does anger/contempt/pride serve?

Answer 47

communicate superiority/power to lower-status

Question 48

(group) whithin the group hierarchy, what function does embarrassment serve?

Answer 48

communicate submissiveness, appeasement func.

Question 49

(group) whithin the group hierarchy, what function does pride serve?

Answer 49

communicate dominance (positively)

Question 50

(group) how do emotions function to cause/sustain collective action?

Answer 50

Emotion serves as a crucial link for recognising inequalities and wanting to take action

Question 51

Collective/Group Action [define]

Answer 51

processes by which group members try to exert a societal change

Question 52

(group) which collective emotion/feeling commonly leads to emotion and then willingness to take action?

Answer 52

in-group privelige

Question 53

Emotional Climate [define]

Answer 53

accumulation of repeated group emotional responses to societal events/socio-political conditions, produce general/lasting emotional tone, produce likely emotional responses to events