Chapter 5: Bodily Changes and Emotions

Question 1

bodily reverberations

Answer 1

now understood to involve the autonomic nervous system, neuroendocrine system, and immune system

Question 2

autonomic nervous system

Answer 2

consists of two branches receiving neural signals from various brain regions

Question 3

parasympathetic branch

Answer 3

originating from the top and bottom of the spinal cord, decreases heart rate and blood pressure, facilitates blood flow to sexual organs, enhances digestive processes, and plays a role in relaxation and social connection

Question 4

sympathetic branch

Answer 4

originating in the middle of the spinal cord, increases heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiad output, constricts arteries, inhibits digestion, and is associated with organic contractions. it also affect thermoregulation, energy production, and immune response, preparing the body for fight or flight

Question 5

contenment

Answer 5

linked with a calmer state, lower heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and slower breathing

Question 6

amusement

Answer 6

shows a drop in heart rate but increase in blood pressure

Question 7

Shiota (2011)

Answer 7

found that love raises heart activity without constriction, while awe reduces sympathetic activation. enthusiams triggers a sweat response

Question 8

sexual desire

Answer 8

involves both sympathetic and parasympathetic activation, with increased blood flow to the genital area

Question 9

Stephen Porges

Answer 9

suggested that the ventral vagal branch of the parasympathic nervous system plays a role in compassion and love

Question 10

elevated vagal tone

Answer 10

linked to the vagus nerve, is associated with compassion

Question 11

Kok and Fredrickson (2010)

Answer 11

showed that people with a higher vagal tone experienced more positive emotions and social connection, with increases in these emotions also boosting vagal tone. vagal tone is also linked to better emotion regulation and sleep

Question 12

neuroendocrine system

Answer 12

consists of glands like the pituitary and reproductive glands, which release hormones into the bloodstream. these hormone influence behaviors related to defense, sex, and status-enhancing actions

Question 13

HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis

Answer 13

a key part of the neuroendocrine system that activates the release of cortisol. amygdala -> hypothlamus -> pituitary -> ACT -> adrenal glands -> cortisol

Question 14

cortisol

Answer 14

helps the body respond to stress by increasing heart rate, glucose production, and blood pressure while suppressing the immune system

Question 15

Trier Social Stress Task

Answer 15

cortisol levels rise when participants feel their social identity is threatened, such as during public speaking. similarly, cortisol increases during experiences of fear

Question 16

sex hormones

Answer 16

like testosterone and estradial are released and regulate physical changes and sexual desire. higher testosterone levels increase sexual desire and behavior, while estradiol levels rise in women during sexual and emotional stimuli

Question 17

immune system

Answer 17

a network of cells and glands distributed throughout the body that helps the body fight infections and heal injuries

Question 18

cytokine system

Answer 18

part of the immune system, releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that help fight infection but also trigger “sickness behaviors” (fatigue, social withdrawal, etc.)

Question 19

stress and cytokines

Answer 19

higher stress and negative emotions can increase cytokine levels, leading to higher inflammation

Question 20

James’s second argument

Answer 20

emotion-specific activation in the bodily systems gives rise to experiences of distinct emotions

Question 21

two approaches to testing James’s claim

Answer 21

• capturing the degree to which the bodily changes of spontaneous emotion relate to reports of emotional experience
• promoting people to produce body changes to see whether such action leads to the experience of emotions

Question 22

introception

Answer 22

our awareness of the body’s internal responses

Question 23

introception and emotional experiences

Answer 23

Individuals skilled at itnroception tend to experience more intense emotions. however, they may also be more vulnerable to anxiety, possibly due to heightened sensitivity to physiological changes associated with anxiety, such as shifts in heart rate and blood pressure

Question 24

embodiment theory

Answer 24

suggests that bodily responses like muscle movements and changes in blood pressure can shape higher-level thoughts, such as our judgements of fairness or how we categorize emotions

Question 25

emotion-related bodily responses

Answer 25

play a key role in decision-making, as suggested by the somatic maker hypothesis from Antonio Damasio

Question 26

somatic marker hypothesis

Answer 26

this theory suggests that bodily reactions guide judgements and decisions by signaling what is risky, valuable, or emotionally significant

Question 27

two main purposes of mimicry

Answer 27

• building relationships
• understanding emotions

Question 28

building relationships

Answer 28

mimicking others emotions helps create a sense of similarity and affiliation, especially with close friends or those in our social group. we are more likely to mimic positive emotions. we also tend to mimic high-power individuals to align with them

Question 29

understanding emotions

Answer 29

mimicking someone’s emotional expression stimulates that emotion in our own minds, helping us understand how the other person feels. research shows that people who cannot mimic emotions struggle to empathize with or understand other’s feelings