Chapter 10: Emotions

Question 1

What is the James-Lange Theory of Emotion?

Answer 1

Physiological responses directly follow the perception of stimuli. The awareness of these bodily changes is emotion.

Question 2

What is the two factor theory of emotion? (2)

Answer 2

1. Both physiological signals and cognitive interpretations are necessary for emotions. 2. Emotions are our interpretations of physiological signals.

Question 3

What is a criticism of the James-Lange Theory of Emotion?

Answer 3

Bodily changes are too diffuse and slow to be differentiated into specific emotional states.

Question 4

Describe the study conducted by Schachter and Singer on cultural differences in emotions (epinephrine).

Answer 4

They measures American undergraduates emotional experience when they experienced placebo or epinephrine-informed/uninformed/misinformed and whether they were with a confederate that was euphoric or one that was angry.

Question 5

What were the results of the study conducted by Schachter and Singer on cultural differences in emotions? (epinephrine) (2)

Answer 5

1. Euphoric condition: Uniformed and misinformed felt more euphoric than those in placebo or informed condition. 2. Anger condition: Uniformed were more angry than placebo and epi-informed.

Question 6

The results of study conducted by Schachter and Singer on cultural differences in emotions using epinephrine supports which theory of emotions and why?

Answer 6

It provides evidence for the two factor theory of emotion because it seems that people look around for context for emotions if they don’t have a reason for the emotion.

Question 7

What are the implications of the James-Lange theory of emotion on cultural differences in emotions? (2)

Answer 7

1. Indicates an evolutionary origin of emotions. 2. Leads to universality of emotional experiences.

Question 8

What are the implications of the two factor theory of emotion? (2)

Answer 8

1. Indicates that emotions are grounded in cultural belief system. 2. Leads to cultural variability in emotional experiences.

Question 9

What were the results of the study conducted by Ekman and colleagues involving people in different cultures describing the emotion of faces they observed?

Answer 9

All cultures were accurate with identifying facial expressions to emotions except New Guinean tribe. However, the tribe had greater than chance accuracy.

Question 10

What are the implications of the the study conducted by Ekman and colleagues on emotion recognition of facial expressions?

Answer 10

Emotions/facial recognition of emotions may be innate.

Question 11

Describe the results of the meta-analysis on the recognition of facial expressions.

Answer 11

People had greater accuracy when guessing the facial expressions of people in their in-group.

Question 12

What are the implications of the the results of the meta-analysis on the recognition of facial expressions? (2)

Answer 12

1. There is an in-group advantage for the recognition of facial expressions. 2. Emotional recognition has a cultural learning aspect.

Question 13

What are emotion display rules?

Answer 13

Culturally prescribed rules that govern how emotions should be expressed.

Question 14

What is historical heterogeneity?

Answer 14

The number of source countries that have contributed to a given country’s present day population since A.D. 1500.

Question 15

Describe the hypothesis of historical heterogeneity and emotional expressivity. (2)

Answer 15

1. When people with different cultural backgrounds and languages need to effectively communicate their emotions with each other, openly expressing their emotions may become adaptive. 2. Historical heterogeneity may be associated with display rules favoring emotional expressivity.

Question 16

Describe the study done by Rychlowska, Miyamoto, Niedenthal, et. al. on historical heterogeneity and emotion expressivity.

Answer 16

People from different countries were measured using two measures: historical heterogeneity and emotion expressivity.

Question 17

What were the results of the study done by Rychlowska, Miyamoto, Niedenthal, et. al. on historical heterogeneity and emotion expressivity?

Answer 17

The more heterogeneous, the more emotional expression.

Question 18

What is emotion regulation?

Answer 18

A process by which people regulate their emotions.

Question 19

What is the hypotheisis for Westerners regarding Sai Wang and Horse? (2)

Answer 19

1. In Western cultures, there is a cultural script to pursue positive emotions. 2. Westerners may try to savor their positive emotions after experiencing a positive event and feeling positive emotions.

Question 20

What is the hypotheisis for Easterners regarding Sai Wang and Horse? (2)

Answer 20

1. In Eastern culture, there is a cultural script to lessen strong positive emotions. 2. Easterners may try to dampen their positive emotions after experiencing a positive event and feeling positive emotions.

Question 21

Describe the field study done by Miyamoto and Ma using an online survey on how people respond to positive emotions after a positive event.

Answer 21

Pts filled out an online survey twice: Day 1 measured grade, positive emotion rating and emotion regulation. Day two measured positive emotion rating.

Question 22

Describe the results of the field study done by Miyamoto and Ma using an online survey on how people respond to positive emotions after a positive event. (2)

Answer 22

1. Americans reported that they wanted to savor their emotions more rather than dampen. Asians wanted to dampen their emotions more. 2. There were no differences in positive emotion rating on day one, but on day 2, Asians had a greater decrease in positive emotions than Americans.

Question 23

Describe Diener’s well-being research involving predictors of well-being within and across nations.

Answer 23

Respondents in 55 nations filled out individual measures (subjective well-being and financial satisfaction) and national level measures (human rights, equality, wealth).

Question 24

What were the results of Diener’s well-being research involving predictors of well-being within and across nations? (Across; Within; US)

Answer 24

Across nations: Positive correlation between human rights, equality, wealth, and life satisfaction. Within nations: Large positive correlation with financial satisfaction and life-satisfaction in poorer countries, but smaller in richer countries. US: Happiness correlates with income until it levels off around $90,000.

Question 25

What are predictors of factors that predict well-being similarly across cultures? (3)

Answer 25

1. Human rights. 2. Equality. 3. Money.

Question 26

What are factors that predict well-being differently across cultures? (2)

Answer 26

1. Inter-personally disengaged vs. engaged emotions. 2. Positive emotions vs. cultural norms.

Question 27

Describe the free association study done by Uchida and Kitayama on the meaning of happiness between cultures.

Answer 27

Americans and Japanese undergrads were asked to freely describe characteristics of happiness and the responses were coded between positive and ambivalent responses.

Question 28

Describe the results of the free association study done by Uchida and Kitayama on the meaning of happiness between cultures. (3)

Answer 28

1. Americans more likely to write about positive hedonistic experience; social harmony. 2. Japanese more likely to write about transcendental and social disruption. 3. They wrote the same amount about personal achievement.

Question 29

How is happiness regarded in the U.S.?

Answer 29

Regarded as exclusively positive and pleasant.

Question 30

How is happiness regarded in East Asia?

Answer 30

Regarded to contain its opposites within itself (transcendental).

Question 31

What is an ideal affect?

Answer 31

How people want to feel.

Question 32

What are the two dimensions of ideal affect?

Answer 32

1. Valence (Pleasantness). 2. Arousal (Activation).

Question 33

Describe the first study conducted by Tsai and colleagues on cultural differences in ideal affect between Asians and Europeans.

Answer 33

European Americans and Asian American undergrads rated their ideal affect based on high arousal positive emotions and low arousal positive emotions.

Question 34

Describe the results of the first study conducted by Tsai and colleagues on cultural differences in ideal affect between Asians and Europeans. (3)

Answer 34

1. EAs want to feel more high arousal positive emotions. 2. JAs wanted to feel more low arousal positive emotions. 3. No cultural differences in how they actually feel.

Question 35

What is the ideal affect in the U.S.?

Answer 35

High arousal positive emotions.

Question 36

What is the ideal affect in East Asia?

Answer 36

Low arousal positive emotions.

Question 37

Describe the results of the second study conducted by Tsai and colleagues that content coded storybooks for cultural differences in ideal affect.

Answer 37

American storybooks depicted more excited expressions than calm. Taiwanese storybooks had more calm faces.

Question 38

Describe the third study conducted by Tsai and colleagues on cultural differences in ideal affect.

Answer 38

EAs, AAs, and Taiwanese preschoolers were asked whether they prefer excited or calm smiles and whether they preferred exciting or calm stories.

Question 39

Describe the results of the third study conducted by Tsai and colleagues on cultural differences in ideal affect. (3)

Answer 39

1. EAs preferred excited smile more than AA and Taiwanese. Taiwanese preferred more calm smile. 2. EAs preferred more exciting story; TAs preferred calm story. 3. AAs in the middle for both.

Question 40

Describe the cultural belief about happiness/life in East Asia.

Answer 40

Seek a moderation/balance.

Question 41

Describe the cultural belief about happiness/life in the U.S.

Answer 41

Pursuit of happiness.

Question 42

Describe the week long survey study done by Oishi on cultural beliefs about happiness/life.

Answer 42

EAs and AA undergrads completed a short survey every night for 7 days. They responded on actual level of well-being (daily satisfaction) and retrospective report of well-being (week satisfaction).

Question 43

Describe the results of the week long survey study done by Oishi on cultural beliefs about happiness/life. (2)

Answer 43

1. No cultural differences in actual satisfaction. 2. EAs reported greater satisfaction retrospectively than AAs.

Question 44

Where do EAs look on the face to judge facial expressions? Where do East Asians look?

Answer 44

1. Eyes and mouth. 2. Eyes.

Question 45

What is the facial feedback hypothesis?

Answer 45

It proposes that one source of information we utilize when inferring our feelings is our facial expressions.

Question 46

Describe the study conducted by Strack, Martin, and Stepper in 1988 using pens on the facial feedback hypothesis.

Answer 46

Participants were asked to hold a pen in their mouth either with it touching their teeth or not. They were then asked how amused they were with a number of cartoons.

Question 47

Describe the results of the study conducted by Strack, Martin, and Stepper in 1988 using pens on the facial feedback hypothesis.

Answer 47

Ps who held the pen in their teeth reported enjoying the cartoons more than those who held the pen between their lips.

Question 48

Describe the first study done by Anderson and Linden in 2006 on cultural variation in the intensity of emotional experience after hearing a stressful scenario.

Answer 48

Chinese Canadians and European Canadians were provided with some scenarios that typically provoke feelings of anger. Ps were then asked how angry they would be and which of the 4 strategies they would take: 1. Express anger. 2. Suppress outward signs of anger. 3. Distract oneself from the anger source. 4. Generate a less angry reappraisal of the event.

Question 49

Describe the results of the first study done by Anderson and Linden in 2006 on cultural variation in the intensity of emotional experience after hearing a stressful scenario. (2)

Answer 49

1. EC felt much anger and tended to express it openly. 2. CCs adopted strategies to minimize their anger response, and accordingly, felt less angry.

Question 50

Describe the second study done by Anderson and Linden in 2006 on cultural variation in the intensity of emotional experience.

Answer 50

Ps were examined to see how they physiologically responded to an anger-provoking incident.

Question 51

Describe the results of the second study done by Anderson and Linden in 2006 on cultural variation in the intensity of emotional experience. (3)

Answer 51

1. Blood pressure of CCs recovered to baseline levels significantly more quickly than EAs. 2. CC experienced their anger less intensely than EAs and were more comfortable with strategies that served to reduce their experience of anger. 3. EAs suffered from physiological consequences if they did not openly express their anger.

Question 52

When did Japanese report feeling more positive feelings in general? When did Americans?

Answer 52

1. When they reported feeling positive interpersonally engaged emotions (feel good when focusing on how their emotional experiences lead them to connect with others). 2. When they reported more feelings of positive interpersonally disengaged emotions (feel good when dwelling on emotional experiences that distinguish them from others).

Question 53

Does wallowing in one’s negative self-feelings have the same consequences across cultures?

Answer 53

No. Self-reflective Americans were considerably more depressed than self-reflective Russians.