Cognition & emotion 1

Question 1

Cognition & emotion as separate topics

Answer 1

Viewed this way prior to 1980’s
Cognitive would use controlled lab conditions that would ignore emotional effects on cognitive tasks
Emotion was seen as the domain of psychotherapists and clinical psychologists

Question 2

Affect

Answer 2

The experience of feeling an emotion

Question 3

Emotion

Answer 3

Brief but intense experience

Question 4

Affective judgement

Answer 4

A decision on what a person likes/dislikes

Question 5

Watson and Clark’s (1994) definition of emotion

Answer 5

Distinct integrated psychophysiological response systems
An emotion contains three differentiable response systems
-a prototypic form of behavioural expression (typically facial)
-a pattern of consistent autonomic changes
-a distinct subjective feeling state

Question 6

CF. Land (1971) definition of an emotion

Answer 6

A behavioural, physiological & cognitive/verbal component

Question 7

3 response systems to emotion

Answer 7

Behaviour eg. facial expressions
Physiological/ bodily response eg. heart rate, sweating
Feeling eg. feel frightened

Question 8

Two approaches to classifying emotional experiences

Answer 8

basic emotions approach
Dimensional approach

Question 9

Basic emotions approach

Answer 9

Limited number of discrete emotions
Lack of consensus on which emotions are basic
‘The big five’- anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness
These are universal/pan-cultural so are independent of culture and upbringing

Question 10

Cross cultural studies show that …. is less pan-cultural

Answer 10

Surprise

Question 11

Characteristics to determine if an emotion is basic

Answer 11

Distinct universal signals
DIstinct physiology
Present in other primates
Quick onset
Brief duration
Distinct thoughts, memories, images & subjective experience

Question 12

Dimensional approach

Answer 12

Varying number of dimensions
An effect grid containing valence (positive/negative) and arousal (calm or excited)

Question 13

Self Assessment Manikin (SAM)

Answer 13

9 point rating varying depending on rating of emotions

Question 14

problems with an affect grid

Answer 14

Some emotions combine attributes that are incompatible with dimensional models
How many dimensions should a model use?

Question 15

hames-Lange theory if emotion

Answer 15

Behaviour proceeds cognition
Feedback from bodily changes leads to us experiencing an emotion
Emotions have a unique physiological signature

Question 16

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Answer 16

Arousal and subjective experience of an emotion occur simultaneously as a result of sub-cortical stimulation

Question 17

Schachter & Singer theory of emotion

Answer 17

Arousal interpretation theory
High physiological arousal and an emotional interpretation of that arousal both essential for experience of emotion
If either of those factors is absent then the emotion isn’t experienced

Question 18

Schachter & Singer’s classic study

Answer 18

4 groups told that they are being injected with a vitamin compound
2 groups injected with adrenalin, 1 with saline
Some informed (racing heart), some misinformed (heartaches & numb feet), some not informed(adrenalin ignorant)
Context manipulation:placed in situation to produce joy/euphoria or anger
results: misinformed euphoria group felt the happiest
Supports for a cognitive component in experiencing emotion