Emotions & emotional intelligence

Question 1

What makes a mental state an emotion?

Answer 1

For a mental state to be an emotion you it must be intentional, valence (level of pleasantness and arousal) and Conscious

Question 2

What are the three basic theories of emotions and what are the core ideas of each ?

Answer 2

Ekman’s Basic Emotion Theory: Emotion are biologically hardwired, universal and tied to distinct physiological responses and specific facial emotions

Lazarus’ Appraisal Theory: Emotion are the result of our cognitive appraisal of situation. How we evaluate an event shape the intensity and type of emotion and physical reaction

Feldman Barret’s theory of constructed emotion: Emotions re constructed in the brain by past experience, prediction, physical signals from our body and core effect. Emotion are guesses

Question 3

What are the 3 types of construction involved in the process of constructing an emotion according to the Theory of Constructed emotions?

Answer 3

• Psychological construction: Core affect (basic feelings of pleasure or
  displeasure, arousal or calmness) is innate but not emotions.
• Neuroconstruct construction: Experience wires the brain; acquired knowledge
• Social construct construction: Context in which an event occurs (ex:
  happiness expressed by large smiles or stoic pleasant face)

Question 4

What is emotional intelligence

Answer 4

Understanding other people emotion, understanding of your own emotions (social and self awareness) and control of your own emotion

Question 5

What is the RULER approach?

Answer 5

1. Recognizing emotions in yourself and others. (body language, vocal tone, facial expression)
2. Understanding the causes and consequences of emotions.
3. Labeling emotions accurately.
4. Expressing emotions appropriately.
5. Regulating emotions effectively.

Question 6

What’s the point of being able to identify (and name) many emotions

Answer 6

Clarity: It helps you understand what you’re truly feeling, reducing confusion.

Question 7

Marc Brackett separated emotions into 4 quadrants that vary based on which two qualities? (High Vs low ____ with High vs low _____)?

Answer 7

Energy and pleasantness

Question 8

Out of all the ways you can regulate your emotions, what is one strategy that should only be used for minor annoyances?

Answer 8

Attention shifting, finding something else to focus on.

Question 9

What is the difference between homeostasis and allostasis?

Answer 9

Homeostasis: wait for error to then correct them
Allostasis: Use prior knowledge to prevent errors and minimize them

Question 10

Explain the body budget metaphor of allostasis and the 4 transactions that ultimately influence your emotions and regulation abilities

Answer 10

1. Withdraw: Activities like breathing, thinking, moving that “…” energy from the body budget
2. Deposit: Activity like eating, sleeping and relaxing that “…’” energy back into the body budget
3. Saving: Long term activity/ habit like good nutrition, good sleep hygiene that create “…” [..]
4. Tax: Chronic withdrawal from poor eating habit, drugs abuse, insufficient sleep that “…” […]