2- Basics of Emotion + Major Theories in Emotion Research Flashcards
What are emotions critical for?
Guiding our behaviour and our quality of life
3 aspects of emotions
- Cognitive
- Bodily changes
- Physiological and neural arousal
Importance of emotional effects
Effects on our behaviour
What suggests that physiological changes are more fundamental than cognition in the emotional experience?
Bodily changes often occur before the cognitive awareness
What consequences does feeling a certain way?
Consequences for how we behave
How is an emotional state triggered?
By rewarding or punishing stimuli that could be internal or external
4 main characteristics of emotions
- Attract attention
- Transient
- Produce bodily responses
- Cause specific outward behavioural responses
What does it mean that emotions are transient?
They are moment-to-moment things
How are emotions different to mood?
Mood is where an emotional state becomes extended, whereas emotions are fleeting
How are emotions and motivation linked?
Emotions are often associated with motivation to act in a certain way
How are emotions goal directed?
They will change our behaviour- we seek out experiences in order to experience/not experience emotions
Why do emotions guide our decisions?
They affect cognition
6 key events in the history of emotion research
- Phineas Gage
- Darwin’s theory
- James-Lange and Cannon-Bard theories
- Sham rage
- Limbic system
- Kluver-Bucy syndrome
When did people become more interested in the biology of emotions?
The 20th century
What did Darwin’s theory of evolution of emotion focus on?
Outward expression of emotion
What 4 key factors of emotion does Darwin propose?
- It is a product of evolution
- It is innate
- It has a practical functioning
- It has a communicative function
How is emotion a communicative function (Darwin)?
It enables an animal to interpret the emotion of another
Why might the original physiological function of emotions be lost? (Darwin)
Emotional expression may have evolved to enhance communicative function
What is the principle of antithesis? (Darwin)
Opposite messages are often signalled by opposite movements and postures
What is the main criticism of Darwin’s theory?
He said nothing about physiological effects
What was the James-Lange peripheral feedback theory?
Stimulus –> perception –> bodily arousal –> emotion
What is the argument of the James-Lange theory?
Bodily response occurs before the actual emotional experience
What is the idea of the James-Lange theory?
Perception of bodily changes produce the emotional experience
What is the emotional experience? (James-Lange)
Our awareness of our bodily responses to emotion-arousing stimuli
How is the James-Lange theory criticised?
Most evidence was from introspection and correlational research
What was the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion?
Stimulus –> perception –> emotion/bodily arousal
What is the idea of the Cannon-Bard theory?
Stimulus perception creates a physiological reaction and emotional reaction at the same time
What is the Cannon-Bard theory’s view on causation?
There is no causation, physical reaction isn’t dependent on emotional reaction and vice versa
What 2 things does a spinal cord injury affect?
- Generation of sympathetic nervous system responses
- Sensory feedback of body state
How do patients with spinal cord injuries report their emotions being affected?
Report less intense emotional experiences
What did Hohmann’s research find?
A decline in intensities of anger and fear feelings in spinal cord injury patients
What is pure autonomic failure?
A condition where organ activity continues but the nervous system no longer regulates it
How is the emotional experience affected in pure autonomic failure?
Participants report less intense emotions
What theory is supported in spinal cord injuries?
Supports James-Lange over Cannon-Bard theory
What is shown by spinal cord injuries?
That bodily changes are critical for emotion
Who came up with the ‘two-factor’ model of emotion?
Schachter and Singer
What is the key idea of the ‘two-factor’ model of emotion?
Arousal is the same for a lot of emotions so physical arousal alone cannot explain range of emotions experience
What is cognitive appraisal?
A cognitive ‘label’ is needed to make sense of the emotions we experience
What is cognitive evaluation?
Assessing the situation and determining the appropriate emotion by environmental cues
How is the degree of bodily arousal influenced?
By emotional intensity
How was support provided for the ‘two-factor’ model?
Someone near us acting in a particular way will influence our cognitive appraisal
What is the problem with the ‘two-factor’ model?
Evidence isn’t very good overall as attempts to replicate the study have failed
What is the problem with early theories of emotions?
Doesn’t look at brain regions
