March 24

Question 1

emotion definition

Answer 1

an inferred complex sequence of REACTIONS TO A STIMULUS [including]

1. cognitive evaluations
2. subjective changes
3. autonomic/neural arousal
4. impulses to action
5. behaviour

designed to have an effect UPON THE STIMULUS that initiated the complex sequence

Question 2

key points to the definition of emotion

Answer 2

1. emotions are FUNCTIONAL
2. emotions are REACTIONS TO STIMULI
3. emotions include:

a) COGNITIVE APPRAISALS

b) SUBJECTIVE FEELINGS

c) PHYSIOLOGICAL CHANGE

d) BEHAVIOUR

Question 3

4 things that emotion include - are they all necessary for something to count as an emotion?

Answer 3

1. cognitive appraisals
2. subjective feelings
3. physiological change
4. behaviour

as for the answer to the question, we’re not entirely sure…

Question 4

William James quote on how emotions work

Answer 4

“we feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble”

^ suggests that some precipitating event leads to physiological reaction which then leads to conscious awareness and labelling of emotion

^ not the typical view

Question 5

James-Lange theory of emotion

Answer 5

emotions are the result of PERCEIVING BODILY CHANGES in response to some stimulus in the environment

1. (appraisal of) STIMULUS
2. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE & BEHAVIOUR
3. EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE

Question 6

James-Lange theory of emotion suggests that diff emotions = associated with…

Answer 6

diff patterns of bodily response

Question 7

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Answer 7

bodily response and emotional experience occur AT THE SAME TIME following a stimulus

occur at the same time, but are independent (signals that go to cortex = emotion and signals that go to body = physiological response)

Question 8

Schachter-Singer two-factor theory of emotion

Answer 8

emotional response is the result of an INTERPRETATIVE LABEL applied to a BODILY RESPONSE

emotion involves COGNITIVE APPRAISAL about the source of the bodily response

the physiological response ISN’T HIGHLY SPECIFIC

Question 9

Schachter-Singer approach - the physiological response isn’t highly specific

Answer 9

stresses the role of COGNITIVE APPRAISAL in interpreting a bodily response

ie. both a BEAR STIMULUS and a LOVE NOTE STIMULUS could result in the same physiological response of HEIGHTENED HEART RATE

but the APPRAISAL is what differs

ie. “I’m gonna die!” versus “I’m gonna die from happiness!”

first appraisal leads to FEAR, second one leads to HAPPINESS

Question 10

famous Capilano bridge study

Answer 10

arousal caused by walking over high suspension bridge was misattributed to attractive confederate

those who walked over narrow bridge on windy day were more likely to call the attractive confederate, and wrote more sexually-charged stories

Question 11

bogus heart rate feedback when viewing pin-ups (ie. playboy girls)

Answer 11

men who THOUGHT their heart was racing rated the model they were looking at as MORE ATTRACTIVE

suggests they MISATTRIBUTED the perceived arousal to sexual attraction

Question 12

basic emotions

Answer 12

thought to be EVOLVED, HARDWIRED responses

adapted to solve SPECIFIC SURVIVAL PROBLEMS

ie. fear helps us escape threat

Question 13

core principles of basic emotions

Answer 13

1. each emotion has an adaptive function
2. emotions coordinate cognition, physiological responses, subjective experiences and behaviour

Question 14

what qualifies a “basic” emotion?

Answer 14

1. universality
2. distinct expressions
3. early emergence
4. physiological distinctiveness

Question 15

universality (pertaining to basic emotions)

Answer 15

should appear across all cultures

and maybe in other species

(universality is a necessary qualification for a basic emotion)

Question 16

distinct expressions (pertaining to basic emotions)

Answer 16

cross-culturally recognizable FACIAL, VOCAL and BEHAVIOURAL patterns

(distinct expressions are a necessary qualification for a basic emotion)

Question 17

early emergence (pertaining to basic emotions)

Answer 17

they’re innate, don’t have to be learned

ie. patriotism and nostalgia don’t emerge early, which is one reason why they aren’t considered basic emotions

(early emergence is a necessary qualification for a basic emotion)

Question 18

physiological distinctiveness (pertaining to basic emotions)

Answer 18

fairly unique physiological profile

(physiological distinctiveness is a necessary qualification for a basic emotion)

Question 19

example of basic emotions approach

Answer 19

Panksepp and his 7 emotion systems

fear, lust, care, panic/grief, play

Question 20

seeking function

Answer 20

generates enthusiasm

curiosity

sense of purpose

Question 21

seeking trigger

Answer 21

new or promising stimuli

ie. food, mates, exploration

Question 22

seeking behavioural output

Answer 22

foraging, goal directed behaviour

Question 23

seeking subjective feeling

Answer 23

interest

anticipation

excitement

enthusiasm

Question 24

rage function

Answer 24

mobilizes an aggressive response to threat, restraint or frustration

Question 25

rage trigger

Answer 25

physical restraint blocked goals perceived injustice

Question 26

rage behavioural output

Answer 26

fighting attacking asserting control

Question 27

rage subjective feeling

Answer 27

anger frustration irritation

Question 28

fear function

Answer 28

promotes survival through avoidance and escape

Question 29

fear trigger

Answer 29

threats pain unfamiliar/dangerous stimuli

Question 30

fear behavioural output

Answer 30

freezing fleeing avoidance

Question 31

fear subjective feeling

Answer 31

fear anxiety dread

Question 32

lust function

Answer 32

drives reproductive behaviour and sexual attraction

Question 33

lust trigger

Answer 33

presence of sexually-relevant stimuli ie. pheromones, fertility cues

Question 34

lust behavioural output

Answer 34

sexual arousal courtship mating behaviour

Question 35

lust subject feeling

Answer 35

sexual desire attraction

Question 36

care function

Answer 36

promotes nurturing and caregiving

Question 37

care trigger

Answer 37

presence of offspring or vulnerable others

Question 38

care behavioural output

Answer 38

protecting feeding soothing

Question 39

care subjective feeling

Answer 39

warmth affection compassion

Question 40

panic/grief function

Answer 40

promotes social reconnection and attachment maintenance

Question 41

panic/grief trigger

Answer 41

social separation loss neglect

Question 42

panic/grief behavioural output

Answer 42

crying protest withdrawal sadness

Question 43

panic/grief subjective feeling

Answer 43

sadness loneliness grief

Question 44

play function

Answer 44

encourages social engagement encourages learning social rules building social bonds emotion regulation

Question 45

play trigger

Answer 45

safe, relaxed environments familiar social partners

Question 46

play behavioural output

Answer 46

rough-and-tumble play laughter

Question 47

play subjective feeling

Answer 47

joy amusement social pleasure

Question 48

dimensional approach to emotion

Answer 48

dimensional models suggest that emotions exist on CONTINUOUS SCALES rather than in discrete categories 2 key dimensions: VALENCE and AROUSAL

Question 49

two key dimensions composing a dimensional approach to emotion

Answer 49

1. VALENCE (pleasant vs unpleasant) 2. AROUSAL (high vs low activation)

Question 50

dimensional approach - people differ in what?

Answer 50

EMOTIONAL GRANULARITY aka ability to FINELY DIFFERENTIATE emotional experience we can't always tell emotions apart, and some people are better than others in differentiating them

Question 51

do emotions fall into discrete boxes according to dimensional approach?

Answer 51

no, they vary according to dimensions of valence and arousal

Question 52

psychological construction theories

Answer 52

argue that emotions are not biologically hardwired categories but are instead CONSTRUCTED using concepts we LEARN from those around us

Question 53

how is psychological construction theory similar to Schachter-Singer theory?

Answer 53

constructionists argue that people rely on SITUATIONAL CUES and LEARNED CONCEPTS to interpret and label feelings but, UNLIKE S-S theory, they don't believe that bodily arousal is necessary