Chapter 10 Flashcards
Emotions
What are the two theories of emotions outlined in the text?
James-Lange theory of emotion; two-factor theory of emotion
What is the James-Lange Theory of Emotions?
Posits that emotions are the product of a physiological reaction to stimuli; our bodies react first, then our minds create an emotion based off of what our body feels; our emotions are cues that tell us how to behave
What is the two-factor theory of emotions?
Emotions are based on both the physiological response to stimuli AND the interpretation of those responses
What kind of studies were done to test the two-factor theory and why?
Experiments with epinephrine. Those being told they were receiving a placebo had a physiological response but no way to interpret it so they look to external stimuli to inform how they should feel.
What is a major difference between the James-Lange theory and the Two-factor theory of emotions?
The James-Lange theory suggests that people in all cultures should have the same emotional experiences (is universal), whereas the two-factor theory suggests that emotional experiences are culturally variable.
What were the results of Ekman and Friesen’s study on facial expression recognition?
Facial expressions that were easily recognizable by American were also easily recognizable for all the cultures studied; suggests a biological basis for facial expression (universality).
Did the study on facial expressions of Fore people of Papua New Guinea show about the universality of facial expressions?
People who had not at all been exposed to any Western culture still made the same facial expression for 6 emotions
What are the 6 facial expressions Ekman proposed are universal?
Happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, disgust, and fear
While pride may be a universal emotion, why is it not included in the six universal’s proposed by Ekman?
It involves the whole body, not just facial expressions (e.g. posturing, head head high, smile, arms extended)
What level of universality are emotions? (the link between facial expressions and inferred emotions)
Functional universal
How do people tend to perform when identifying facial expressions of people from their own culture vs. people from other cultures?
People are more accurate at identifying facial expressions of people from their own culture than people from other cultures.
What part of the face do Japanese people attend to most when discerning facial expressions? What about Americans?
Japanese people pay more attention to the eyes; American people pay more attention to the mouth
What are display rules?
The culturally specific rules that govern which facial expressions are appropriate in a given situation, and how intensely they should be exhibited.
How is heterogeneity in a culture related to emotional expression?
People in heterogenous cultures tend to be more emotionally expressive than people in homogenous cultures
Why are people in heterogenous cultures more emotionally expressive than people in heterogenous cultures?
Because people in low-context cultures tend to need more explicit communication and more expression gives more information about one’s feelings than a subdued expression.
What are ritualized displays?
Facial expressions that are expressed in some cultures but not in others as a function of cultural display rules
What are two dimensions of emotions that researchers focus on when studying the experience of emotions cross-culturally?
Intensity of emotions and the kinds of emotions
How intensely do people from interdependent cultures tend to feel their emotions compared to people from independent cultures?
They tend to experience their emotions less intensely and for not as long. (especially anger)
Why might people from interdependent cultures experience their emotions less intensely?
To fit in, to maintain group harmony
