Chapter 10: Emotions and Thinking Flashcards
Week 3: Cognitive and Biological Processes
locally rational
aligning with beliefs and appraisals about events in the world
what do we mean when we ask whether emotion can be rational?
- first emotions can be locally rational even though they may not be globally rational
- secondly, rationality is related to whether emotions facilitate effective functioning in the social world
- the third aspect explors whether emotions guide perception, thinking, attention, memory, and judgement constructively or interfere with these processes
delusional beliefs
like grandiosity or paranoia, are deemed irrational as they hinder reliable social interaction
ways emotions is signalled in the nervous system
- one signal occurs automatically and is derived from the primary appraisal. it is evolutionary and sets the brain into a specific mode of organization or readiness
- another signal arises from secondary appraisal and is informational
dissociation
occurs when individuals know about certain events in the world without emotionally caring about them
mood effects on memory and perception
emotions like happiness, sadness, and anxiety influence how we perceive and remember things, but their impact varies by task and individual differences
affect infusion model
emotions can ‘infuse’ or influence complex cognitive tasks, especially in situations where tasks require judgement or decision-making
affect as information theory
emotions can serve as heuristics (mental shortcuts) to guide decision-making, especially when complex judgments are involved
signal value of emotions
emotions provide signals, such as anger signalling an injustice, prompting action
judgment simplification
given the complexity of many decisions, people often rely on emotions to make judgments instead of evaluating all available evidence
mood and judgment influence
anxiety induces fear transformed into attraction, showing how emotions can distort judgments based on the current emotional state
effects of mood on evaluative judgments
both positive and negative moods impact judgments across various domains
mood and future judgment
emotions affect predictions about the future
guilt, fear and risk perception
- fear increases the perception of risks and dangers in the future
- guilt enhances the sense of personal control and can lead to riskier actions to mitigate that guilt
- these emotional states adjust our judgment of future events and can alter our decison making processes, leading to more cautious or, conversely, more daring actions
system 1 thinking
fast, automatic, and based on heuristics. it operates quickly and effortlessly, often without conscious thought
system 2 thinking
slow. deliberate and required conscious effort. it involves reasoning through problems and weighing evidence
emotions influence on attention
emotions can influence attention by making certain stimuli more salient or distracting, depending on the emotional state
anxiety and attention
narrows attentions and causes people to focus on feared outcomes, but can also lead to avoidance or neglect of other important aspects
fear and attention
enchances attention to potential threats and leads to more negative interpretations of ambiguous situations
optimism and attention
optimism can bias attention towards positive events, helping individuals maintain a positive outlook on the future
schema
our memory is not exact. it is influenced by our own structure of meaning, known as schema. people construct a version of the story using their schema
emotion-related biases in memory
- people tend to underestimate the intensity of their emotions in past events
- present emotions influence the recollection of past emotions
morality
judgments about right or wrong. when emotions function properly, they act as guides to morality
Haidt’s theory
suggests that emotions, not reason, initially shape moral decisions. these are quick, intuitive emotional judgments, followed by slower rational reasoning.
historical perspectives (Haidt’s theory)
Haidt’s view aligns with Erasmus’ idea that people often believe their actions are based on reason when they are readily driven by emotions
emotions as motivators (Haidt’s theory)
emotions not only guide moral decisions but also motivate people to act virtuously, challenging the notion that reason alone governs morality
Shakespeare’s influence
literature underscores the role of emotions in moral and relational decisions
moral principles and characteristics
principle 1: harm and care
emotions like empathy, sympathy, and compassion stem from vulnerability and drive us to help others
principle 2: fairness and justice
fairness is a core aspect of moral judgment; we are sensitive to who deserves what and react emotionally to perceived cheating or unfair behavior
principle 3: in-group loyalty
moral intuitions also guide our behaviors related to group dynamics, especially feelings like pride and loyalty within our in-group. these emotions promote group cohesion and cooperation, but they can also fuel bias against out-groups
principle 4: hierarchical status
status in social hierarchies is another foundational principle of moral intuitions. we have deep-rooted emotions related to obedience, deference to authority, and loyalty to leaders—emotions that trace back to our primate ancestors, where social groups had clear hierarchies
principle 5: purity and sanctity
purity often related to feelings of disgust and involves judgment about moral cleanliness, especially in terms of bodily and spiritual purity
impure actions
viewed as morally offensive
blind individuals
individuals can be blind to the perspectives of others who prioritize different principles
emotional bias
can limit understanding and empathy across cultural or ideological divides, reinforcing group identities and moral divisions
law and emotion
are deeply intertwined, with different types of law evoking different emotions
punishment in the legal system
reflects a moral intuition that wrongdoers should be punished, which is rooted in emotions like anger and disgust
fictional media and real-life legal practices
both play a role in our emotional reactions to justice, often framing crime as a breach that needs to be repaired by punishment
news and public discourse
often evoke an emotional response to criminal acts, reinforcing a collective sense of moral superiority and condemtion
certainty of detection
is a more effective measure of reducing crime than increasing punitive measures
