Cultural Psych. Ch.14 pg. 528-551

Question 0

Two factor theory of emotion

Answer 0

Emotions are primarily our interpretations of our bodily responses. Hiker experienced fear at sensing his pounding heart because there was no other reasonable way to interpret his bodily sensations in that situation. (Physiological signals + interpretation of signals). Predicts emotions vary across cultures.

Question 1

James Lange Theory of Emotions

Answer 1

Emotions are the physiological responses or ‘bodily reverberations’ to stimuli in our worlds. A hikers heart beat starts pounding and runs away when he encounters a bear, experiencing emotion of fear. Emotions are bodily changes that signal how we should behave. Predicts universal emotions.

Question 2

The 6 basic emotions

Answer 2

Ekmans six universal basic emotions

1. Happiness
2. Surprise
3. Sadness
4. Anger
5. Disgust
6. Fear

Question 3

Sources of evidence for the universality of emotions (e.g., studies comparing adults/babies)

Answer 3

1. Expressions that adults make are made by very young infants, even babies who are born blind.
2. Chimpanzees express emotional expressions similar to humans.
3. Blind judo wrestlers express ‘prideful’ body language when they have never seen it before.
4. Ford tribe were able to express the 6 basic emotional facial expressions.
5. People from their own culture are more accurate at judging facial expressions of people from their own culture.

Question 4

Display rules (definition, examples in different cultures)

Answer 4

Culturally specific rules that govern which facial expressions are appropriate in a given situation and how intensely they should be exhibited.

1. Arab culture: dishonorable to not react to insults with great anger.
2. Kahului show emotions particularly intensely and dramatically.
3. Americans express emotion no matter who is around.
4. Japanese shoe emotion when alone and restrain from emotion when a superior is around.
5. Indians show ritualized displays, tongue bite when embarrassed.

Question 5

Facial feedback hypothesis

Answer 5

One source of information we utilize when inferring our feelings is our facial expressions. If we are smiling then we are happy. Facial muscle movements do affect the experience of emotion.

Question 6

Emotional “smoothness”

Answer 6

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Question 7

East-Asian vs. Western physiological responses to anger-provoking situations

Answer 7

1. European Canadians feel much anger and express it openly. They duffer physiological consequences if they don’t openly express anger
2. Chinese Canadians adopt strategies to minimize anger responses and therefore felt less angry. They experience anger less intensely than European Canadians and can reduce their experiences of anger.

Question 8

Cultural differences in reading emotional expressions (e.g., where East Asians tend to focus)

Answer 8

1. Japanese are more influenced by the top half of photos, looking at the eyes.
2. Americans are more influenced by the bottom half of photos, looking at the mouth.
3. Europeans judge expressions by attending to both eyes and mouths.

Question 9

Cultural differences in experience of emotions (intensity)

Answer 9

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Question 10

Cultural emotional “accents”

Answer 10

1. Japanese are more likely to conceal emotions they feel that are potentially disruptive by presenting a more neutral or pleasant face than are Americans. They are encouraged to exert control over their emotional expressions.
2. Americans are encouraged to express their emotions.