March 26

Question 1

who is right? basic emotion theory or psychological construction theory?

Answer 1

debate is ongoing

perhaps integration is possible (Panksepp did acknowledge both biological and learned components, after all)

Question 2

how could we integrate BET and PCT?

Answer 2

PRIMARY PROCESSES:

^ raw emotional systems rooted in subcortical brain regions, shared across mammals

SECONDARY PROCESSES:

^ learning and memory systems that shape responses based on past experiences

^ this is where individual variability comes in

TERTIARY PROCESSES:

^ higher-order cognitive systems (language, culture) that conceptualize and label emotions

Question 3

integration of BET and PCT: shame example

Answer 3

shame may be rooted in SOCIAL PAIN (panic/grief)

but shaped by CULTURAL and COGNITIVE processes

it’s through language and cultural scripts that shame becomes “shame” to us - other cultures label and define it differently

Question 4

the value and costs of negative emotions

Answer 4

negative emotions are essential and part of a well-balanced life

they EXIST FOR A REASON - they feel bad for a purpose

but if sadness and fear and other neg emotions are TRIGGERED TOO EASILY or LAST TOO LONG, they can become dysfunctional

and the environment we now inhabit is very different than the environment our emotions adapted to

Question 5

fear

Answer 5

a response to a SPECIFIC, IMMEDIATE THREAT

involves:

1. intense feelings
2. facial expressions
3. physiological reactions
4. action tendencies (freezing, escape, avoidance)

Question 6

when compared to fear, anxiety is more…

Answer 6

diffuse

non-specific

Question 7

social anxiety

Answer 7

specific to social situations (esp meeting new people or public speaking)

driven by fears of judgment, rejection, negative evaluation

Question 8

distinct facial expressions related to fear & anxiety

Answer 8

raised and drawn together eyebrows

widened eyes

tension around mouth

Question 9

characteristic behavioural response associated with fear & anxiety

Answer 9

freezing

motionlessness is a good defense to threat

children with naturally inhibited temperaments will respond to fearful situations by being still

Question 10

what facilitates flight in fear and anxiety?

Answer 10

sympathetic nervous system

Question 11

adaptive value of fear and anxiety

Answer 11

heightens attention to threat

prepares body for action

Question 12

sadness is triggered by what?

Answer 12

most often triggered by LOSSES

that threaten SOCIAL BONDS or VALUED GOALS

Question 13

sadness signals need for what? and how does it do this?

Answer 13

need for SUPPORT (ie. when we experience social loss, we reconnect with loved ones)

1. sad FACIAL EXPRESSIONS are universally recognized
2. BODY LANGUAGE and nonverbal cues are also recognizable
3. CRYING increases recognition

Question 14

sadness promotes what kind of thinking?

Answer 14

more CAREFUL, SYSTEMATIC thinking

less reliance on stereotypes and heuristics in exchange for more realism

leads to efforts to analyze the situation thoughtfully and figure out what led to the sadness

did we do something wrong? were we treated unfairly?

Question 15

sadness leads to less reliance on what?

Answer 15

stereotypes and heuristic

in exchange for more REALISM

Question 16

what does sadness do when goals are no longer attainable?

Answer 16

sadness may help BREAK THROUGH RIGID GOAL PERSISTENCE (goal shielding)

may lead to REALISTIC REASSESSMENT and OPENNESS to SHIFTING GOALS

^ especially with help from others

Question 17

sadness is linked to 2 physiological patterns

Answer 17

1. increased arousal
2. decreased arousal

Question 18

sadness - increased arousal

Answer 18

1. higher heart rate
2. higher blood pressure

Question 19

sadness - decreased arousal

Answer 19

1. lower heart rate
2. lower skin conductance

Question 20

increased arousal associated with sadness

Answer 20

seen when CRYING

more likely when loss is IMPENDING (versus when it’s already occurred)

may reflect ACTIVE COPING, CALL for social SUPPORT

Question 21

decreased arousal associated with sadness

Answer 21

more likely when loss is FINAL

may reflect ENERGY CONSERVATION

Question 22

the 2 psychological patterns associated with sadness show that maybe there’s a…

Answer 22

time course

body gears up before the loss (increased arousal) inn order to call for support and attempt to prevent loss

then after the loss is certain and undoable, body arousal decreases and energy is conserved

Question 23

when attachment or social bonds are threatened, what’s the response pattern?

Answer 23

2 stage response pattern

1. protest
2. despair

Question 24

protest and despair upon separation from attachment figure

Answer 24

1. PROTEST PHASE: active distress
2. DESPAIR PHASE: emotional shutdown and withdrawal to conserve resoucres

Question 25

parallels between sadness and protest/despair

Answer 25

2 physiological phases of sadness response (increased arousal first, followed by decreased arousal) same with response to separation from attachment figure (protest phase first, followed by despair phase)

Question 26

Panksepp's affective neuroscience perspective on protest/despair

Answer 26

prolonged activation of PANIC/GRIEF system leads to shutdown of SEEKING system causes LOW ENERGY/MOTIVATION - this is a core feature of depression

Question 27

Panksepp's affective neuroscience perspective on PANIC/GRIEF system shutting down the SEEKING system ties into...

Answer 27

roots of DEPRESSION and ADDICTION drugs wear down the brain's natural ability to generate pleasure, leading to dysphoria both depression and addiction stem from overtaxing the brain's emotional system - through PROLONGED GRIEF or overstimulation of reward systems

Question 28

protest and despair phase in relation to depression

Answer 28

proest phase is active and high in physiological arousal ^ it isn't adaptive to stay here forever, it's costly leads to despair phase, which is a shutdown ^ maybe this is the biological model for depression (sustained pain shuts down the motivation and response systems)

Question 29

self-conscious eomtions

Answer 29

these involve HEIGHTENED SELF-AWARENESS and NEGATIVE APPRAISALS of the self

Question 30

commonalities between self-conscious emotions

Answer 30

1. reflect belief that we've DONE SOMETHING WRONG 2. or that we've FALLEN SHORT of expectations 3. make us FEEL BAD 4. provoke URGE to HIDE/WITHDRAW

Question 31

embarassment

Answer 31

often triggered by: 1. SOCIAL MISHAPS 2. UNWANTED ATTENTION but doesn't necessarily mean we did something morally wrong

Question 32

shame

Answer 32

typically follows: 1. MORAL FAILURES 2. PERSONAL FAILURES ie. hurting someone, lying, disappointing others leads to: 1. NEGATIVE, GLOBAL SELF-JUDGEMENTS (global, stable self-criticism)

Question 33

example of a statement caused by a feeling of shame

Answer 33

"I'm a bad person global and stable self-criticism

Question 34

guilt

Answer 34

arises from SPECIFIC ACTIONS ie. breaking a promise, neglecting someone, cheating ties to feeling bad about WHAT WE DID, not who we are

Question 35

does guilt, shame or both motivate people to take action and repair harm?

Answer 35

guilt (because guilt arises from specific actions and leads us to feel bad about what we did instead of who we are - whereas shame is more global and stable)

Question 36

shame displays what?

Answer 36

submission signals in animals

Question 37

what do submission signals in animals function to do?

Answer 37

de-escalate conflict and prevent harm so gives us an eye into a potential function of shame

Question 38

shame may have evolved as...

Answer 38

an APPEASEMENT STRATEGY helps to reduce aggression, elicit cooperation or pity, maintain social cohesion

Question 39

shame tiggers what kinds of withdrawal?

Answer 39

emotional and physical withdrawal ^ similar to DEPRESSIVE STATES and SICKNESS BEHAVIOURS ^^ both of these are linked to INCREASED INFLAMMATION ^^^ inflammation heightens SOCIAL SENSITIVITY (for both positive and negative stimuli)

Question 40

what leads to increased inflammation, and what does increased inflammation lead to?

Answer 40

depressive states and sickness behaviours lead to increased inflammation increased inflammation leads to heightened social sensitivity (for negative and positive stimuli)

Question 41

why is anger unique among basic negative emotions?

Answer 41

it motivates APPROACH rather than withdrawal it energizes us to confront obstacles

Question 42

core trigger of anger

Answer 42

arises when something BLOCKS our goals or THREATENS our wellbeing ie. physical or psychological harm, betrayal, unfair criticism

Question 43

function of anger

Answer 43

to help us REMOVE OBSTACLES to PREVENT HARM

Question 44

anger stems from what belief?

Answer 44

belief that the interference or restraint is unjust or illegitimate (belief that things aren't as they should be)

Question 45

useful social functions of anger

Answer 45

1. COMMUNICATES our LIMITS and DEMANDS to others 2. mild, constructive expressions of anger can STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS by prompting understanding and change 3. mild anger can INCREASE perceptions of POWER and BOOST PERFORMANCE in confrontational situations (ie. negotiations, competitive tasks) 4. can increase one's SENSE OF CONTROL

Question 46

strategic use of anger

Answer 46

individuals sometimes boost anger when prepping for conflict or competition because it enhances importance

Question 47

costs and caveats of anger

Answer 47

1. can damage close relationships if poorly regulated 2. can lead to physical and social harm 3. may lead to retaliation 4. if anger is perceived as fake or manipulative, people push back harder 5. acceptability of anger expressions varies across cultures and by gender

Question 48

how does acceptability of anger vary across cultures and by gender?

Answer 48

MEN's anger is often seen as SITUATIONAL and JUSTIFIED while WOMEN's anger is JUDGED MORE HARSHLY (unless the cause is made explicit)

Question 49

what is effective anger regulation (and what's it key for?)

Answer 49

effective anger regulation: CHANNELING ANGER INTO CONSTRUCTIVE ACTION it's key to achieving goals without damaging relationships