4. What is emotion? Flashcards
What are the basic characteristics of emotions?
- Emotions are BASIC; they are not culture dependent.
2. They can be attributed to evolution since emotions have adaptive value in dealing with fundamental life tasks.
What is the primary function of an emotion according to Ekman?
To mobilise the organism to deal quickly with important interpersonal encounters, partially based on past experiences.
What are the basic emotion ‘families’?
Anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise
What are the fixed characteristics of emotions (there are 9)?
- Distinctive universal signals. 2. Present in other primates. 3. Distinct physiology. 4. Distinct universals in antecedent events. 5. Coherence among emotional response. 6. Quick onset. 7. Brief duration. 8. Automatic appraisal. 9. Unbidden occurence.
What problem has been identified in both people with facial paralysis as well as stroke patients?
They have problems maintaining social relationships, and general interpersonal difficulties.
How might emotions be linked to the autonomous nervous system?
E.g. fear –> blood to skeletal muscles to run away. Anger –> blood to hands, to fight. This was not shown in all emotions.
Which other emotions might also be basic emotions, but was Ekman not entirely sure of?
Embarassment, Awe, and Excitement.
What does the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions (by Fredrickson) entail?
It says that positive emotions lead to people broadening their thought-action repertoire; they start playing and exploring. This builds personal resources like physical, intellectual, social and psychological strength, which can later be drawn from to improve the odds of succesful coping and survival.
How does the “positivity offset” relate to Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions?
Fredrickson states that positive emotions lead us to engage with the world; they facilitate approach behaviour and continued action. So a positivity offset (meaning we are usually slightly positive) leads us to engage and be active.
There may be two kinds of positive emotions. Which?
A high activation state of joy, and a low activation state of contentment. Both lead to a broader thought-action scope.
What is the undo hypothesis, in the broaden-and-build theory?
It states that positive emotions can undo the effects of negative emotions. They have a bounce back effect.
What is the upward spiral in the broaden-and-build theory?
People tend to try to find positive meaning in ordinary events, which cause positive emotions, which then lead to more positive meaning finding and a broader thought-action repertoire, which leads to more positivity etc.
How are facial expressions used in social situations, according to Niedenthal?
They efficiently summarise information about what the partner in the dyads are doing, why, and who they are to each other and how the present situation will or should unfold over time.
For instance when a child sees a fear response on the mother’s face when close to an ambiguous stimulus, the child will learn to fear it (operant conditioning).
Also, facial expressions generate appropriate social intentions in the perceiver. E.g. individuals who smile are trusted more.
What are vicarious emotions?
Emotions that are mirrored in the observer. They can also be present when emotions are not observed in the other, but simply expected to be present. This is how it’s different from empathy.
What is the influence of, in an experiment or through for example botox, inhibiting facial mimicry?
The emotion centres become less active. Speed of evaluation of facial displays decreases. Becomes harder to distinguish genuine emotion. Empathy decreases.
