March 31 Flashcards
boredom
it’s aversive
boredom is aversive
people dislike boredom so much that they sometimes prefer receiving ELECTRIC SHOCKS over doing nothing
negative consequences of boredom
impulsivity
substance abuse
productivity loss
what does boredom signal?
a need for CHANGE
it occurs when WE CAN’T SUSTAIN ATTENTION (tasks are too easy or too hard)
or when an activity FEELS MEANINGLESS
boredom occurs when tasks are too…
too easy
or too hard
boredom can be useful: explain
mind wandering can lead to creativity, eureka moments, realizations, problem solving
what can we do about boredom?
depends on what the problem hinges on
three possibilities:
- attention is the problem, because task demands are too high
- attention is the problem, because task demands are too low
- meaning is the problem
^ these all call for different responses
response to boredom if attention is the problem and task demands are too high
- decrease task difficulty to match skill level
- break down task into manageable components
- build up skill to match challenge
response to boredom if attention is the problem and task demands are too low
- make task more challenging
- increasing external stimulation
^ ie. listen to podcast while doing laundry
response to boredom if meaning is the problem
- re-evaluate goal
- find value in activity/make it feel more relevant
when bored, we should pursue what types of activities when lacking meaning?
interesting activities
when bored, we should pursue what types of activities when lacking attention?
enjoyable activities
what does pursuing interesting activities do?
it builds up our cognitive resources
which prevents future boredom
why does happiness not totally fit in with other emotions?
emotions are reactions to STIMULI
- while happiness can be triggered by events, IT’S OFTEN FELT WITHOUT A CAUSE
- and it’s MORE PERSISTENT than other emotions
- and some people are just HAPPIER - it’s a TRAIT-LIKE characteristic
what’s important to know about the physiological and behavioural markers of happiness?
they’re LESS DISTINCT
though a Duchenne smile signals genuine happiness
trait-like characteristic that resembles happiness
subjective wellbeing
subjective wellbeing
the trait-like characteristic that resembles happiness
satisfaction with life scale example items
“in most ways my life is close to my ideal”
“the conditions of my life are excellent”
“I’m satisfied with my life”
“so far, I’ve gotten the important things I want in life”
“if I could live my life over, I would change almost nothing”
what predicts happiness? factors that US adults cite as contributing to life satisfaction
- close social relationships
- physical health
- financial stability
- meaningful work
- self-development
- religious faith
- enjoying life’s activities
what is happiness strongly tied to across cultures?
- strong social connections
- societal trust
what does a history of positive social relationships foster?
attachment security
attachment security is characterized by beliefs that others can be trusted and that one is capable of dealing with challenges
attachment security predicts what?
greater resilience
stronger interpersonal relationships
sense of control
ALL OF WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO HAPPINESS AND WELLBEING
while discrete positive and negative events do have some temporary impact on happiness…
we tend to RETURN TO BASELINE happiness levels over time
psychological immune system
really good at regulating our emotions and adapting to our environments
we often OVERESTIMATE the impact of POSITIVE and NEGATIVE events due to habituation and our psychological immune system
is higher income related to greater happiness?
yes, but not as much as we think
RELATIVE WELATH matters AS MUCH or MORE than ABSOLUTE WELATH
^ people are happier when they’re comparing themselves to others who have less wealth
wealth doesn’t add much to life satisfaction once…
your basic needs have been met
what does prioritization of wealth as a life goal do?
UNDERMINES WELLBEING
while a sense of AUTONOMY and MEANINGFUL GOALS (esp those that benefit others) strongly predicts happiness
what’s the relationship between happiness and good life outcomes?
bi-directional
ie. marriage - marrying makes you happy, but happy people are also more likely to get married
ie. physical health - phys health makes you happy, but happy people are also more likely to be physically happy
marriage and happiness directionality: some studies show…
- show decreases in stress
- long-term increases in happiness
following marriage
BUT positive emotionality in high school predicts marital status and marital satisfaction later in life
positive emotionality in high school predicts…
- marital status later in life
- marital satisfaction later in life
what predicts happiness? key takeaway
there’s a LOT WE CANN DO to boost happiness and life satisfaction
choose GOALS and ACTIVITIES that fulfill your PSYCHOLOGICAL NEEDS
broaden and build theory
a theory of positive emotions
positive emotions BROADEN OUR THINKING
foster curiosity, creativity, and engagement with the world
broaden and build theory: following positive mood induction…
people are more likely to:
- RECOGNIZE GLOBAL PATTERNS
- THINK CREATIVELY
- REMAIN OPEN to new experiences
positive emotions help build what?
- resilience
- long-term satisfaction
while negative emotions prepare us to avoid threats, positive emotions…
promote exploration and goal-seeking
helps us take advantage of opportunities for growth and connection
enthusiasm
generated by ANTICIPATING a REWARD
people often prefer waiting for a reward to ENJOY THE BUILDUP
adaptive function of enthusiasm
motivates action and effort in pursuit of reward
physiological responses related to enthusiasm
physiological responses similar to fear
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
how is enthusiasm an exception to broaden-and-build theory?
it NARROWS attention
makes people focus on the immediate reward
enthusiasm increases reliance on what?
heuristics in decision making
less deep evaluation
contentment
occurs after consuming a reward
contentment is linked to activation of what?
the PARASYMPATHETIC NS
^ slows body down, promotes digestion and relaxation
after consuming a reward, what happens to brain activity in nonhuman animals?
(after consuming a reward = contentment)
brain activity shifts from DOPAMINERGIC activation (reward anticipation)
to BETA-ENDORPHIN activity (relaxation and behavioural slowing)
what does contentment enhance?
memory consolidation
helps animals remember how they obtained the reward
when does pride arise?
when a person ATTRIBUTES a POSITIVE EVENT to their OWN ACTIONS
nonverbal expressions of pride
- expanded posture
- puffed out chest
- hands on hips
