Current Emotion Theories Flashcards
For who does facial expression support the theory of Evolution?
Darwin (1809/1882)
Study Object of Darwin’s Evolutionary Theory
The possibility that the same facial expressions of emotions were found all over the world
Charles Darwin theses
There are 3
Cross species continuity and universality of a number of facial expressions of emotions
Facial expressions as serviceable habits or gestures
Communicative function
Why were emotions designed according to the Evolutionary Theory?
Emotions as designed by evolution to solve problems
Signs of danger(e. g. wild animal) as biologically prepared stimulus (universal fight/flight/freeze response)
Evolutionary Theory’s main concern
Main concern is the survival of the gene
“A particular feature of a species’s neural architecture will spread over generations because it enhances the possibility of dealing successfully with recurring reproductive opportunities”
Niedenthal, 2017
Evolutionary Theories: biological bases of basic emotions important authors
(TIE)
Tomkins (1962, 1963)
Izard (1977, 2007)
Ekman (1992)
Basic Emotions definition
Innate neural/bodily states that are rapid and unintentional- automatical- caused by biologically prepared stimuli
Criteria for classifying basic emotions in Evolutionary Theory
University Disses Presence Automonatically
Universal expression
Discrete physiology
Presence in other primates
Automatic appraisal or evaluations of the environment
Evolutionary Theories Assumption:
Components like feelings and facial expression are co-occuring every time we have an emotion
Components of emotion cohere because
Affect program (Tomkins and McCarter, 1964)
Affect Program
Innate brain systems that are pre-set to tell the body what to do when faced with particular event
Evolutionary Theories in Sum
(with arrows)
Stimulus-> Affect program-> Emotion
Biologically prepared signal stimuli reliably elicit affect programs designed to respond adaptively
Appraisal Theories Starting Point
Very few objects/events cause the same emotion in all people
How are emotions defined in the Appraisal Theory ?
Emotions are determined by how an individual appraises his or hers circumstances
What is Appraisal?
The mental process that allows u to detect objects/events in your environment and evaluate their significance for your (immediate) well-being
2 characteristics of Appraisal
Appraisals are experienced on a continuum, multiple dimensions (opposite of B&W thinking so not simply good or bad)
Happen rapidly, unconsciously and unintentionally
A particular appraisal is assumed to be the cause of ___?
Emotions
Appraisal Theories
(with arrows)
Stimulus -> Appraisal-> Emotion
Core Affect (appraisal theory)?
Innate components of emotion
2 dimensions:
Pleasant vs unpleasant
Activated vs deactivated (energy)
“At the heart of emotion, mood, and any other emotionally charged event are states experienced as simply feeling good or bad, energised or enervate” Russel, 2003
ANY GIVEN EMOTION CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A BLEND OF PLEASANTNESS AND ACTIVATION
Who came up with the Cognitive Appraisal Theory in 1960?
Magda Arnold
Magda Arnold Cognitive Appraisal Theory (1960) Thesis :
First step in emotion is appraisal of the situation; which leads to emotions and arouses both adequate actions and the actual emotional experience
What are the two major types of appraisal in the Cognitive Mediational Theory (1968)?
Primary: establishing meaning of the event (is this situation good for my well being?)
Secondary: assessment of the ability to cope with the event (Do i have the resources to cope with this situation?)
Cognitive Appraisal Theory (1960) Main Assumption:
Organisms are constantly evaluating whether the environment is beneficial or harmful for them
Which theory did Richard Lazarus come up with in 1968?
Cognitive Mediational Theory (stress research)
Main point of the Cognitive Mediational Theory?
Emotions are constantly in a state of flux (importance of coping processes)
What is appraisal in the Cognitive Mediational Theory (1968)?
Cognitive mediator of stress reactions
Who came up with Componential Theories and when?
Scherer in 2009
Componential Theories
Different components of emotion (facial expression etc.) can be caused by independently different appraisals
Psychological Constructionism
Tries to explain the huge variation in how emotions look and feel
Psychological Constructionism in Sum
(with Arrows)
Stimulus-> Core affect-> Categorisation-> Emotion
What is Categorisation?
Mental process of structuring/attributing meaning to experiences by learning to recognise emotions and to label it
Emotion categories within a given culture and language group come from a social concensus
Categorisation, important authors and date:
Barrett, 2006
Lindquist & Grendo, 2013
Key concepts of Current Emotion Theories
There is no uniform and standard definition of what emotions are
We must distinguish between the concept of mood, feeling and emotion to use emotion as a scientific concept
What are the 3 classical emotional theories?
James-Lange
Cannon-Bard
Two-Factor Theory
What are the 3 more recent emotional theories?
Evolutionary Theories
Cognitive Appraisal theories
Psychological Constructionist Theories
What are the antecedents of an emotion?
What causes them
What does biological givens mean?
Innate emotional capacities
What is the integration of emotional experience?
How components of emotion fit together
Traditional appraisal theories are more focused on?
Antecedents
Psychological constructionists are more focused on?
how learning and experience cause the integration of emotions
Evolutionary Theories are more focused on?
Biological givens
