Emotions Flashcards
How did Socrates describe emotion and reason?
Master and slave
How did Aristotle describe emotion?
Thought that affect influences reason and described emotions as opposites (eg. approach and withdrawal)
What did Stoics think about emotion?
Emotions were a source of frustration and were pointless. We should be impassive and use higher reason
What did Darwin (1872) think about emotion?
Hypothesised an evolutionary basis of emotion - emotions have an adaptive function
What evidence did Darwin cite to support his hypothesis?
Cited evidence that there are consistent, stereotypical expressions of emotion across species, especially in large animals.
Argued children had less formed expression, more intense feelings.
Suggested cross-cultural comparisons be conducted to test ideas
Why was Darwin’s hypothesis criticised?
Criticised for being anthropomorphic, especially with terminology
What is the pop psychology of physiology/emotionality?
Event –> emotion –> physiological change
What is the James-Lang theory of physiology/emotionality?
Event –> physiological change –> emotion
What is the Cannon-Bard theory of physiology/emotionality?
Event –> Emotion/physiological change
what did Blythe et al (2023) say about detecting emotion?
Not just facial cues – e.g., we’re really good at detecting signals from hands
How are emotions related to biology?
- There are nervous system processes behind emotion that are based on fixed neural substrates (i.e.. hormones & neurotransmitters)
- Stereotypical across people & can be simulated with drugs
E.g., illegal drugs that stimulate euphoria artificially
These physiological findings imply emotions are inborn predispositions
what did Ekman et al (1987) find in their cross-cultural study?
Corroborated results from New Guinea Fore language study (Ekman & Friesen, 1971)
6 emotions found in 10 diverse nations: happiness, sadness, surprise, anger, fear, & disgust.
What does Ekman et al (1987) suggest about emotion?
Suggests not learned & not because of internationalisation though there are cultural differences in gestures and some expressions
What have cross-species studies shown about emotions?
Social primates (including lemurs, macaques and chimps) show similar expressions
Especially expressions of fear, threat, & affection
Can look at social behaviour in context
Some evidence dogs recognise human emotions
Humans can interpret piglet calls for emotional content
Primitive vertebrates (e.g., reptiles) lack facial muscles
Suggests emotions have an evolved function*
What did Ekman (1972) find in their baby study?
Babies show clear facial expressions
What did DeCatanzaro (1999) find in their baby study?
Babies show startle response
What did Freedman (1964, 1979) find in their baby study?
Blind babies smile
What did Grossman et al (2008) find in their baby study?
Babies react to others’ expressions - especially negative emotions
What did Kagan (1997) find about the reactivity of infants?
20% of infants were highly reactive which has a long-term effect on anxiety and sociability
What did Ainsworth (1971,1978) find in her study into emotions in children?
Relationship with primary caregiver important to emotionality
What are the 3 sources of individual differences?
Genetics, environment and epigenetics
What is appraisal theory of emotion? (Arnold, 1960)
emotions constructed by an individual’s cognitive interpretation of arousal within a social context.
Event –> appraise event –> express emotion
eg. tiger –> danger –> fear