anger Flashcards
Describe reinforcement approaches for understanding anger.
When it comes to the reinforcement approach, neo-behaviorists believe anger results from the termination of pleasant events as well as the arrival of unpleasant events. They believe positive and negative reinforcers can impact anger heavily. Anger can be sparked by the omission or termination of reinforcers, which creates feelings of Frustration, anger, and rage
Describe cognitive appraisal approaches for understanding anger.
Cognitive Appraisal Approach believes emotions are caused by an individual’s interpretation of a situation as opposed to the specific situation itself. There is a belief that the emotion of anger is a response usually triggered by an individual’s appraisal of a blocked goal (something personally significant). This could be the absence of a reward or presence of a punishment. This approach also believes pain may produce anger because someone interprets this as a blocked goal of being physically comfortable.
What does it mean to say that anger is an approach-motivated emotion? Describe neuroscience evidence indicating that anger is an approach-motivated emotion.
Negative emotions are usually associated with withdrawal motivation. Anger is viewed as a negative emotion but provides an approach-motivated response (attack, aggression, etc.). Anger can be considered approach-motivated because it occurs when an individual is motivated to gain a desired reward and is blocked from progress toward the reward. An individual’s blocked desires turn into anger which may yield positive outcomes. When we look at the neuroscience of this approach-motivation, we see that anger and joy are connected via left frontal cortical activity. This produces a positive affect and attains approach motivation. Negative affect and withdrawal motivation such as fear and disgust, result in right frontal cortical activity. Lastly, anger is not associated with withdrawal response unless there is a threat of punishment.
