intro to self conscious emotions lect 1 Flashcards
how do we display our feelings
with facial expressions e.g happy sad angry etc
what are primary emotions
Damasio
-immediate instinctual responses e.g joy, fear, sadness
-universal and often linked to events or situations
-bodys first response
-adaptive as make us react in certain way without emotion being contaminated by thoughts/habits
-as time passes the emotion is likely to fade
what are secondary emotions
Damasio
-consider reaction to the primary emotion
-more complex, influenced by personal experience, beliefs and thoughts
-habitual or learned responses
-higher cog processes
-protect the self from being vulnerable
-can increase a behaviour, increase the intensity of reactions and last longer than primary emotions
-learned in childhood from adults/parents e.g after feeling anger you feel shame
what are eckmans 6 primary emotions
anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, surprise
background of emotions
-Darwin: the expression of emotion in man and animals, his observations have ignored psychoanalysis and developmental psych
-WHY
1. freud’s focus on guilt
2.general confusion between emotions e.g guilt and shame
3.major issues with the measurement of emotions
how did darwin measure emotions
blushing behaviour
what are the weaknesses of using blushing behaviour to measure emotions
-many people do not blush, indiv differences
-blushing is a measure of self reflection in presence of others and mostly linked with embarrassment
-role of cog ignored
emotional development
Lewis
-development of sense of self during 2nd year of life, children recognise themself as separate from their caregiver
how to test emotional development
Lewis and Brooks rouge test
-children 9-24 months in front of mirror after a red spot placed on their nose
-if child touched own nose instead of baby in the mirror it was indicative the child recognised reflection as themself
what age do children develop sense of self awareness
between 15 and 24 months
what is self awareness
Kopp
-realisation you are separate from others
emotional development after developing self awareness
-chilld learns to understanding social emotions like guilt, shame, empathy etc (Lally and Valentine French)
-set standards and rules which develops expression of self conscious emotions (between age of 2 and 3)
-exposure to pos and neg social interactions and behaviours effects indiv expression of self conscious emotions (Stipek)
what are self conscious emotions
modify thinking and behaviour to adjust, replicate, stress or eliminate cognitions and actions as environment changes
-self conscious emotions set humans apart from animals
what is the first group of self conscious emotions
guilt shame embarrassment jealousy etc
what is the second group of self conscious emotions
unrequited love, nostalgia
when do first self conscious emotions appear
in second half of second year in life
how do self conscious emotions differ from basic emotions
-self awareness plays key roles
-some require extensive cog processing
-situations that children learn self conscious emotions differs culturally:
1.individualistic: feel pride in personal accomplishment
2.collectivistic: taught not to call attention to themselves unless they wish to feel embarrassed (Paris et al)
features of self conscious emotions
-central role in motivating and regulating people’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours (Fischer and Tanguey)
-emotions drive people to work hard in task domains (Stipek)
-behave in moral, socially appropriate ways in social interactions and intimate relationships (baumeister et al)
what is shame
-acutely painful emotion when we fail to meet intended social standard
-loss of social status implied
-failure to live up to one’s standards
-rooted in deeper causes e.g low self esteem
-involves neg feelings about self
what emotions accompany shame
sense of worthlessness, humility, shrinking, desire to hide/disappear
how is shame maladaptive
increases depressive symptoms, anxiety, anger, control dysregulation, cardiovascular reactivity, self harm and decreased self esteem
what is guilt
-not purely neg
-sense of regret or remorse
-associated with rumination of behaviour and thoughts of changing current situ
-shame focuses on global self, guilt on self’s actions
-there is debate about whether it is adaptive or maladaptive
what is unrequited love (UL)
-love for someone who doesnt share the same feelings
-can cause longing for more complete love (bringle et al)
-includes romantic feelings, sexual desires, intense desire to be close to someone
intended partners in UL:
-do not make effort to spend time together
-do not know you or have any interest in a relationship with you
-see you as a friend
-turned you down or clarified non romantic interest
painful situ of UL includes:
-daydreaming about unlikely situations
-anxiety, jealousy
-neglecting oneself
-low self esteem
what is UL linked to
attachment theory
what is nostalgia
-nostos= returned to ones native land
-algos= pain or suffering
background to nostalgia
-considered undesirable neg emotion in the 20th century (confused with homesickness: Wildschut et al)
-beginning of 21st century: literature went separate ways
1. homesickness referred to psychological maladjustment from a young person’s transition away from home
2.nostagia= prevalent pos (mostly), functional emotion that can refer to any aspect of one’s past (Sedikides)
what is nostalgia according to Sedikides
self relevant, albeit deeply social, and ambivalent, albeit more pos than neg, emotion
what does research on nostalgia link to
-attachment styles (Abeyta)
-loneliness (abeyta)
-optimism (cheung)
-certain types of music can be nostagic (sedikides)
-nostalgia and wellbeing during covid (Gibbs)
-food is powerful elicitor of nostalgia (Reid)
what does it mean to be self conscious
-apologising for mistakes and taking responsibility
-taking pride in accomplishments
-engaging in social activities
-feeling joyful for one’s actions
-great booster of self esteem and self confidence
is there any negatives to being self conscious
excessive feelings of self consciousness can be unhealthy, toxic and effect mental health:
-feeling of being judged
-feeling that everyone is looking
-responding to embarrassment with anger and hostility
-blaming others for one’s mistake
-avoiding social experiences
-lack of confidence, agitation, nervousness, anxiety and depression
the dark side of self conscious emotions
-unhealthy self awareness can result in social anxiety (isolation and low self esteem)
-can prevent healing from traumatic events
-indiv may avoid medical care (those who experience shame, guilt or embarrassment avoid taking screening for sexually transmitted diseases)
why do we need self conscious emotions
-pride helps people work hard (boosts self esteem and helps us perform better)
-improves social functioning
-motivates us to take action
-be more empathetic
-less risky choices made
-may be adaptive: adaptive to notice, understand and remedy when bad things happen
-embarrassment or blush may communicate one is aware of their mistake and will work to adjust behaviour
sex differences
-women more likely than men to make global appraisal following failure
-men tend to endorse hubristic pride more
-both men and women have reported authentic pride, guilt and embarrassment
