Chapter 10: Emotions and Thinking

Question 1

locally rational

Answer 1

aligning with beliefs and appraisals about events in the world

Question 2

what do we mean when we ask whether emotion can be rational?

Answer 2

• 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

Question 3

delusional beliefs

Answer 3

like grandiosity or paranoia, are deemed irrational as they hinder reliable social interaction

Question 4

ways emotions is signalled in the nervous system

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

dissociation

Answer 5

occurs when individuals know about certain events in the world without emotionally caring about them

Question 6

mood effects on memory and perception

Answer 6

emotions like happiness, sadness, and anxiety influence how we perceive and remember things, but their impact varies by task and individual differences

Question 7

affect infusion model

Answer 7

emotions can ‘infuse’ or influence complex cognitive tasks, especially in situations where tasks require judgement or decision-making

Question 8

affect as information theory

Answer 8

emotions can serve as heuristics (mental shortcuts) to guide decision-making, especially when complex judgments are involved

Question 9

signal value of emotions

Answer 9

emotions provide signals, such as anger signalling an injustice, prompting action

Question 10

judgment simplification

Answer 10

given the complexity of many decisions, people often rely on emotions to make judgments instead of evaluating all available evidence

Question 11

mood and judgment influence

Answer 11

anxiety induces fear transformed into attraction, showing how emotions can distort judgments based on the current emotional state

Question 12

effects of mood on evaluative judgments

Answer 12

both positive and negative moods impact judgments across various domains

Question 13

mood and future judgment

Answer 13

emotions affect predictions about the future

Question 14

guilt, fear and risk perception

Answer 14

• 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

Question 15

system 1 thinking

Answer 15

fast, automatic, and based on heuristics. it operates quickly and effortlessly, often without conscious thought

Question 16

system 2 thinking

Answer 16

slow. deliberate and required conscious effort. it involves reasoning through problems and weighing evidence

Question 17

emotions influence on attention

Answer 17

emotions can influence attention by making certain stimuli more salient or distracting, depending on the emotional state

Question 18

anxiety and attention

Answer 18

narrows attentions and causes people to focus on feared outcomes, but can also lead to avoidance or neglect of other important aspects

Question 19

fear and attention

Answer 19

enchances attention to potential threats and leads to more negative interpretations of ambiguous situations

Question 20

optimism and attention

Answer 20

optimism can bias attention towards positive events, helping individuals maintain a positive outlook on the future

Question 21

schema

Answer 21

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

Question 22

emotion-related biases in memory

Answer 22

• people tend to underestimate the intensity of their emotions in past events
• present emotions influence the recollection of past emotions

Question 23

morality

Answer 23

judgments about right or wrong. when emotions function properly, they act as guides to morality

Question 24

Haidt’s theory

Answer 24

suggests that emotions, not reason, initially shape moral decisions. these are quick, intuitive emotional judgments, followed by slower rational reasoning.

Question 25

historical perspectives (Haidt’s theory)

Answer 25

Haidt’s view aligns with Erasmus’ idea that people often believe their actions are based on reason when they are readily driven by emotions

Question 26

emotions as motivators (Haidt’s theory)

Answer 26

emotions not only guide moral decisions but also motivate people to act virtuously, challenging the notion that reason alone governs morality

Question 27

Shakespeare’s influence

Answer 27

literature underscores the role of emotions in moral and relational decisions

Question 28

moral principles and characteristics

Answer 28

Question 29

principle 1: harm and care

Answer 29

emotions like empathy, sympathy, and compassion stem from vulnerability and drive us to help others

Question 30

principle 2: fairness and justice

Answer 30

fairness is a core aspect of moral judgment; we are sensitive to who deserves what and react emotionally to perceived cheating or unfair behavior

Question 31

principle 3: in-group loyalty

Answer 31

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

Question 32

principle 4: hierarchical status

Answer 32

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

Question 33

principle 5: purity and sanctity

Answer 33

purity often related to feelings of disgust and involves judgment about moral cleanliness, especially in terms of bodily and spiritual purity

Question 34

impure actions

Answer 34

viewed as morally offensive

Question 35

blind individuals

Answer 35

individuals can be blind to the perspectives of others who prioritize different principles

Question 36

emotional bias

Answer 36

can limit understanding and empathy across cultural or ideological divides, reinforcing group identities and moral divisions

Question 37

law and emotion

Answer 37

are deeply intertwined, with different types of law evoking different emotions

Question 38

punishment in the legal system

Answer 38

reflects a moral intuition that wrongdoers should be punished, which is rooted in emotions like anger and disgust

Question 39

fictional media and real-life legal practices

Answer 39

both play a role in our emotional reactions to justice, often framing crime as a breach that needs to be repaired by punishment

Question 40

news and public discourse

Answer 40

often evoke an emotional response to criminal acts, reinforcing a collective sense of moral superiority and condemtion

Question 41

certainty of detection

Answer 41

is a more effective measure of reducing crime than increasing punitive measures