Emotion and personality Flashcards
Emotions
Have distinct subjective feelings
Accompanied by bodily changes
Accompanied by action tendencies
Content of Emotion
What emotion someone experiences
Style of Emotion
How that emotion is experienced
Happiness defined by?
Judgment that life is satisfying
Predominance of positive vs.
negative emotion
Research on
happiness
Happy people:
* Are less abusive & hostile
* Are more helpful, creative, energetic,
forgiving, trusting
* Report fewer diseases
* Report more satisfying relationships
Biological Theories of Neuroticism
Due to easily activated limbic system
Associated with activate anterior cingulate (e.g.,
during social rejection)
Increased activation of right prefrontal cortex
(involved in regulation emotion)
Theories of Neuroticism
Preferential processing of negative information
about oneself
Richer networks of association for memories with
negative emotions
May pay more attention to unpleasant information
Criteria for Major Depression
5 or more of the following symptoms
* One (or both) of the symptoms with an asterisk () must occur
* Symptoms must last at least 2-week
* Symptoms interferes with functioning and cause marked distress
Sad / low mood Anhedonia* (i.e., diminished interest/pleasure in most activities)
Change in appetite or weight Change in sleep: insomnia or hypersomnia
Fatigue & loss of energy
Restlessness/agitation
Worthlessness/guilt
Difficulty concentrating or with decisions
Recurrent thoughts of suicide/death &/or suicidal behaviour
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Helps people to identify & challenge distorted thoughts &
beliefs in order to change them (to be more realistic)
Encourages behavioural techniques & realistic goal setting
Theories of Depression: Biology
Primarily, low levels of:
* Serotonin
* Norepinephrine
* Dopamine (but, less so)
Type A Personality
High levels of achievement striving,
impatience, competitiveness, & hostility
Linked to low agreeableness & high neuroticism
Affect Intensity
How strongly people experience emotion (e.g., fluctuation, reaction)
* Like traits, affect intensity is on a continuum
Research on Affect Intensity
People high in affect intensity show greater mood variability & fluctuation
Affect Intensity relates to: High activity level, sociability, arousability, high
extraversion AND high neuroticism
