Lecture 4 - Introduction to Emotion Flashcards
What is the definition of emotion according to the Oxford English Dictionary?
Emotion is a strong feeling derived from one’s circumstances, mood, or relationships with others; it is an instinctive or intuitive feeling distinguished from reasoning or knowledge.
What is the difference between mood and emotion according to Rottenberg (2005)?
Mood is a diffuse, slow-moving feeling weakly tied to specific objects or situations, while emotion is a quick-moving reaction to meaningful stimuli that require adaptive responses.
According to Darwin, why did emotional expressions evolve?
Darwin suggested that emotional expressions evolved for their adaptive value in dealing with fundamental life tasks, aiding survival.
How does Darwin’s theory relate to emotions across species?
Darwin proposed that basic emotions are conserved across species, signaling likely actions, with beneficial behaviors becoming effective means of communication.
What are the “basic emotions” identified by Darwin and later developed by Paul Ekman?
Basic emotions include anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise, which are believed to be universal, automatic, and innate.
How did Ekman demonstrate the universality of emotional expressions?
Ekman found that diverse cultures, including preliterate tribesmen in Papua New Guinea, could recognize emotional expressions, suggesting that these expressions are universally understood.
How do emotions serve individual functions?
Emotions alter how information is processed (e.g., widening eyes in fear to detect a threat) and help individuals adapt behavior to achieve goals (e.g., emotional states help adjust actions to overcome obstacles).
What is the concept of “display rules” in emotion expression?
Display rules refer to cultural and gender norms that dictate how emotions should be expressed, such as girls being expected to smile and boys to express anger.
How do gender and culture influence emotional expression?
Gender and culture influence the recognition and expression of emotions, as shown by differences in emotional displays due to cultural or gender expectations (e.g., smiling to mask negative emotions in Japanese culture).
How did Ekman’s study with American and Japanese participants highlight cultural differences in emotional expression?
In the study, Japanese participants masked negative emotions with smiles when watched by an experimenter, whereas American participants expressed negative emotions freely.
What are some methods used to study facial expressions in emotional research?
Methods include the Facial Action Coding System (FACS), which categorizes facial movements, and facial electromyography (EMG), which measures muscle activity in response to emotional stimuli.
What does facial electromyography (EMG) measure in emotional research?
EMG measures the electrical activity of facial muscles, detecting subtle emotional expressions even when they are suppressed.
How does the Circumplex Model of emotion classify emotions?
The Circumplex Model uses two dimensions: arousal (high vs. low) and valence (positive vs. negative), creating a circular representation of emotions.
What role do emotions play in social interactions?
Emotions help signal social information, such as fear signaling a threat and sadness eliciting caregiving, which strengthens social bonds.
How do emotions aid in the expression of motives, according to Fridlund (1991)?
Emotions and facial expressions often communicate motives rather than actual emotional states, as demonstrated by the impact of social context on emotional expressions.
How did Hess et al. (1995) investigate the effects of social context on emotional expression?
They varied the emotional intensity and relationship between participants, finding that emotional expressions were influenced more by the social context than by the intensity of the stimuli.
What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system in response to emotions?
The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body for “fight-or-flight” responses, increasing heart rate, breathing, and other physiological changes associated with stress.
How does the parasympathetic nervous system contribute to emotional regulation?
The parasympathetic nervous system calms the body down, promotes digestion, and conserves energy, helping to prepare for future events after emotional arousal.
What does the James-Lange theory propose about emotions?
The James-Lange theory suggests that emotions are a result of bodily responses to stimuli. For example, we feel afraid because we run or feel sad because we cry.
What evidence supports the James-Lange theory of emotion?
Research showing that facial expressions can be differentiated based on heart rate responses supports the idea that emotions are linked to bodily changes (e.g., heart rate for sadness and anger).
What is the main criticism of the James-Lange theory according to Cannon-Bard theory?
Cannon-Bard theory argues that emotions occur even when the brain is disconnected from the body, and that bodily changes are not specific to emotions.
What does the Two-Factor theory of emotion suggest about emotional experience?
The Two-Factor theory by Schachter and Singer proposes that emotions result from both physiological arousal and cognitive appraisal, where individuals interpret their bodily states based on environmental cues.
According to Lazarus, what influences the experience of emotions?
Lazarus’s theory suggests that emotions are rooted in the individual’s appraisal of their relationship with the environment, asking “What does this event mean to me?”
What is the role of the amygdala in emotion processing?
The amygdala plays a central role in processing emotions, particularly fear, and is involved in responses to emotional stimuli, such as fear conditioning and recognition of facial expressions of emotion.
