Behavioral Science: Motivation, Emotion, and Stress

Question 1

Theories of Emotion: James-Lange

Answer 1

Physiological response, then emotional label.

“I must be angry because my skin is hot and my BP is high.”

Weakness: patients w/ spinal cord injury show same level of emotion as before.

Question 2

Theories of Emotion: Cannon-Bard

Answer 2

Cognitive and physiological components of emotion occur simultaneously and result in the behavioral component of emotion or action.

“I’m afraid because I see a snake and my heart is racing! … Run!”

Weakness: fails to explain vagus nerve.

Question 3

Theories of Emotion: Schachter-Singer

Answer 3

Both arousal and labeling of arousal based on environment must occur in order for an emotion to be experienced.

“I’m excited because my heart is racing AND everyone else is happy.”

Question 4

Stress Response: Cognitive Appraisal (“2 + 1” stages)

Answer 4

1. Primary appraisal: initial evaluation of environment and associated threat.
2. Secondary appraisal: evaluation of whether organism can cope w/ stress.
3. Reappraisal: ongoing monitoring.

Question 5

Stress Response: Physiological (General Adaptation Syndrome, 3 stages)

Answer 5

1. Alarm: initial reaction to stressor. Activation of sympathetic NS via hypothalamus –> pituitary secretes ACTH –> adrenal glands produce cortisol; hypothalamus –> adrenal medulla secretes Epi and NE.
2. Resistance: continuous release of hormones –> sympathetic NS remains engaged to fight stressor.
3. Exhaustion: body not able to maintain elevated response w/ sympathetic NS activity –> more susceptible to illness/medical conditions, organ systems deteriorate, death (extreme).

Question 6

Stress Response: Emotional

Answer 6

Irritable. Moody. Tense. Fearful. Helpless. Difficulty with concentration and memory.

Question 7

Stress Response: Behavioral

Answer 7

Withdraw from others. Difficulties at work/school. Substance use. Aggression. Suicide. Mental health disorders.

Question 8

Stress Response: Coping and Stress Management

Answer 8

Problem-focused: work to overcome stressor.

Emotion-focused: change one’s feelings about a stressor.

Question 9

Theories of Motivation: Instinct

Answer 9

People are driven to do certain behaviors based on evolutionarily programmed instincts (innate, fixed patterns of behavior in response to stimuli).

Darwin, William James, William McDougall.