1.2 natural or man-made

Question 1

Charles Darwin suggested

Answer 1

emotions are natural kinds complex automatic reflexes elicited by the stimuli in the environment (when triggered = will unfold), biologically hardwired and offer evolutionary adaptation

Question 2

Eckman suggests emotions are

Answer 2

universal.

Question 3

Eckman’s study of facial expressions

Answer 3

supported the theory that emotions are evolved biological responses.
Took photos of westerners expressing emotions to remote tribe in Papea new guinea
And pics of those back to America
= across culture/race/age/gender were able to understand which emotion was being communicated ==> biological response
5 basic emotions are universal across all societies - sadness joy fear disgust and anger

complex emotions have more cultural influence

Question 4

Eckman - elements of Basic emotions

Answer 4

emotions are discrete and can be distinguished - includes facial, vocal, autonomic physiology and studying events that proceed one or another emotion.

Question 5

evolution of emotions

Answer 5

evolved through adaptation to our surroundings. basic emotions are prewired responses to stimuli that has affected ancestors.
the language around emotions is socially constructed

Question 6

physiology of emotions

anger, feb, happiness, surprise, disgust

Answer 6

facial expression is universal.
anger = blood flow to the arms and hands (Fight)
fear = blood redirected to legs and feet (flight)
happiness = oxytocin, serotonin etc. required, increasing energy available to help social bonding
surprise = brows raised and air quickly inhaled, increasing ability to react to a sudden and unknown stimulus
disgust = gag reflect and restricted airflow to olfactory receptors

Question 7

problems with basic emotions approach

Answer 7

lack of consensus on the set of basic emotions - new emotions added to the list e.g. shame, guilt, relief, contentment

Question 8

methodological issues of basic emotions approach

Answer 8

forced choice task without filler items, facial expressions display exaggerated, posed emotions
and there is a lack of reliable evidence for neurophysiological ‘blueprint’

Question 9

emotions as mental constructs

Answer 9

william james - emotions are constructed by the mind, caused by the interpretation of bodily reactions

Question 10

emotions as appraisal

- who and what

Answer 10

Arnold & Lazarus = appraisal theory.
emotions are adaptive responses which reflect appraisals of features of the environment –> we constantly evaluate events for personal relevance and this triggers emotions

Question 11

components of an emotional episode

Answer 11

appraisal - evaluations, motivational - action tendencies , somatic - peripheral physiological responses, motor - expressive and instrumental behaviour, feeling - subjective experience

Question 12

Appraisal

Answer 12

detects and assesses environmental significance conceptualised as the satisfaction or obstruction of concerns (needs, attachments, values, goals & beliefs).

need appraisal to decide whether we need to respond or not - don’t always need to react

Question 13

emotions as psychological contructs

Answer 13

a single facial movement can be associated with many emotion categories –> context needed to understand

Question 14

constructing emotions

Answer 14

perceived emotion also required wider context and verbal expression

neurological correlates of emotional arousal show some activation changes between different emotions but also lots of overlap = not distinct emotions

changes between people and cultures