Factors shaping feelings and their role in communication

Question 1

Neurodiversity-affirming lens

Answer 1

A perspective that recognises and embraces the natural diversity of neurological and cognitive functioning among individuals.

• Challenges the traditional notion that there is a “normal or “typical” way of:
  o Thinking, Learning, Behaving
• Focuses on strengths, abilities, and perspectives of neurodiverse individuals.

Question 2

Sensory sensitivities

Answer 2

Refers to the individual differences in processing and responses to sensory stimuli from the environment.
Can include:

• Heightened sensitivity or aversion to sensory input
  o Sound, touch, taste, smell, or visual stimuli.
  Can cause sensory overload or discomfort in response to certain stimuli that may not bother others.

Question 3

Emotional regulation

Answer 3

Involves the ability to monitor, evaluate and modulate one’s emotional experiences and expressions to adaptively respond to internal or external stimuli.
Involves:

• Recognising and labelling emotions
• Understanding their causes and consequences
• Employing strategies to manage and regulate the intensity and duration of emotional responses.

Question 4

Empathy

Answer 4

Refers to the capacity to understand and sharing the feelings, thoughts and perspectives of others.

Question 5

Emotional experiences

Answer 5

Refers to the internal, subjective feelings and reactions that individuals undergo in response to various stimuli or experiences.

• Are deeply influenced by cultural backgrounds.
• Can vary significantly in different societies and communities.

Question 6

Emotional expressions

Answer 6

Refers to the outward display or communication of one’s internal emotional experience, through:
- Facial expressions
- Body language
- Vocal tone
- Verbal communication

Cultural norms influence how an individual expresses their emotions, determining what is considered appropriate or acceptable in different contexts.

Question 7

Collectivist cultures

Answer 7

Refers to societies / communities where the collective well-being and cohesion of the group is more important than individual interests.
- Encouraged to prioritize group harmony.
- Individuals may supress or regulate their own emotions to maintain social cohesion and harmony.

Question 8

Individualist cultures

Answer 8

Refers to societies / communities where the individual is encouraged to express emotions openly and prioritise their own emotional well-being and fulfilment over the groups.
- Encourages individual autonomy.
- Personal achievement
- Self-expression

Question 9

Display rules.

Answer 9

Refers to the “norms” or guidelines that dictate how individuals should regulate or express their emotions in different social contexts.
- Can vary across cultures and situations.
- Influence the appropriate emotions being expressed in certain settings.

Question 10

Cultural display rule

Answer 10

Refers to the modification of emotional expression according to the cultural norms.
- Dictate how individuals adapt their emotional displays based on societal expectations and values regarding emotional expression in a specific cultural context.

Question 11

Contempt

Answer 11

Refers to a complex emotion that involves a combination of:
- Disgust, anger and superiority towards someone or something perceived as inferior or worthless.

Question 12

Grief

Answer 12

Refers to an emotional response to loss, usually in the case of death or if something important ends.
- Involves a range of feelings (sadness, sorrow, longing emptiness).
- Can manifest in various ways (emotional, cognitive, physical, and behavioural).
- Cultural traditions and beliefs can affect how grief is shown and how people cope.
- People experience it in different ways and is a natural reaction to loss.

Question 13

Theory of Basic Emotions

Answer 13

Suggests that emotional expressions were:
- Biologically driven.
- Discrete categories of emotion that evolved over time.
- Aims to explain why different cultures can share similar facial expressions for certain emotions, even though never had contact.

Question 14

Surprise

Answer 14

An emotion of astonishment or unexpectedness or something startling occurs.
Is distinguished by:
- Upper eyelids and eyebrows raised.
- Open mouth with dropped jaw.

Question 15

Fear

Answer 15

An emotion triggered by the perception of danger, threat, or harm. Typically involves a sense of unease, apprehension, or anxiety.
Is distinguished by:
- Eyebrows pulled up and in
- Upper eyelids slightly raised.
- Corners of the mouth are stretched sideways.
- Lips are tight.

Question 16

Disgust

Answer 16

An emotion triggered by a strong feeling of aversion, revulsion towards something unpleasant, offensive, or repulsive.
Is distinguished by:
- Eyes narrow.
- Eyebrows pulled down.
- Nose wrinkled.
- Top lip raised to show teeth.

Question 17

Anger

Answer 17

An emotion triggered by intense perceived injustice, frustration, or provocation. Involves feelings of irritation, hostility, or resentment.
Is distinguished by:
- Furrowed brow.
- Lower eyelids tightened.
- Lips tightened and pressed together.

Question 18

Happiness

Answer 18

An emotion characterised by feelings of joy, contentment, and satisfaction. Often associated with pleasurable experiences and fulfilling relationships.
Is distinguished by:
- Crow’s feet seen as muscle tightens around eyes.
- Corners of mouth raised.

Question 19

Sadness

Answer 19

An emotion characterised with feelings of sorrow, unhappiness, or melancholy. Often associated with loss, disappointment, or separation from something valued.
Is distinguished by:
- Skin pouches on forehead.
- Eyebrows pulled up and in.
- Corners of mouth turned down.

Question 20

Facial Action Coding System (FACS)

Answer 20

Suggests that core emotions are seen across cultures, and used (FACS) to objectively measure and classify facial expressions.
- Uses anatomically based systems for describing all observable facial movements.
- Breaks facial expressions down into specific action units (Aus) that are the basic muscular movements of the face.

Question 21

Four reasons why emotions are crucial in communication

Answer 21

Emotions transcend language barriers.
o Emotions bridge the gap that words cannot describe in conveying emotions. A smile can show kindness, and tears can convey sadness better than words alone.

Emotions provide the context that frames our words.
o Emotions shape how we perceive the world. Saying “I’m fine” with a happy tone versus a sad tone can change its meaning. Emotions give important clues that help us understand messages better, making misunderstandings less likely to occur.

Emotions foster empathy.
o Emotions help us to understand and connect with others. When we see someone happy, we might feel happy to, which helps us share their emotions. This connection makes it easier to understand each other’s feelings and viewpoints.

Emotions reveal intentions.
o Emotions can reveal intentions that words might not say directly. A comforting touch during a difficult conversation can display support without words. A raised eyebrow can hint at scepticism. Emotions can add layers of meaning that can enrich our interactions.

Question 22

Complex emotions

Answer 22

Describes feelings that involve a higher-level of thinking and personal interpretation.
Include:
- Awe, resentment.
- Influenced by social norms, culture, and personal experiences.
- Requires conscious thought and self- awareness.

Question 22

Subliminal stimuli

Answer 22

Refers to stimuli that is presented too quickly for conscious recognition and can shed light on unconscious emotional responses.

Question 23

Affective blindsight

Answer 23

Refers to a condition where individuals can have emotional responses to stimuli presented in their blind field, despite lacking conscious awareness of the stimuli due to damage to the visual cortex.

Question 23

Blindsight

Answer 23

Refers to a condition where individuals can still respond to visual stimuli such as detecting objects or movements, even though they are not consciously aware of them.

Question 23

Striate cortex

Answer 23

Also known as the primary visual cortex or V1, and is a region located in the occipital lobe.
- Responsible for processing visual information from the eyes and is involved in various aspects of visual perception,
- Detecting edges, shapes, and motion.