models of emotion- basic emotions

Question 1

Two factor theory of emotion

Answer 1

 Schachter and Singer (1962) proposed that an emotion is determined by an interaction between two components: a physiological arousal and a cognition regarding the recognition to the situation triggering this physiological arousal
 Physical arousal is considered to be undifferentiated by nature, diffuse and non-specific to an emotion
 It is the interpretation of the situation which leads to the identification of the emotion felt
 Notably, for an emotion to occur, the person needs to establish a link between the physiological arousal and a relevant explanation for the latter

Question 2

evidence for the 2 factor theory of emotion

Answer 2

  To test their theory, Schachter and Singer (1962) had participants received an injection of a solution which will cause palpitations, tremor, and redness of the face, and gave participants either correct, incorrect, or no information about the effects
 Then participants filled out a questionnaire in a separate room where a confederate “participant” pretended to behave either cheerfully or angrily after the injection
 Result: participants who did not know correctly what to expect from the injection experienced feelings of either euphoria or anger matching the confederate’s behavior

Question 3

Basic emotions theory

Answer 3

 Since 1970s’, emotion theorists with an evolutionary perspective have stressed the notion of emotions adaptation
 Matsumoto and Ekman (2009), for instance, define emotions as: “transient, bio-psychological reactions designated to aid individuals in adapting to and coping with events that have implications for survival and well-being”
 They proposed the existence of a limited number of fundamental universal “basic emotions”, each having an evolutionary function (e.g. Ekman, 1982). More complex emotions would originate as a mixture of these basic emotions (Ortony & Turner, 1990)

Question 4

characteristics of basic emotion

Answer 4

 Ekman (1992) suggested that basic emotions
 are present in non-human species, be triggered rapidly and automatically, and appear spontaneously & for a short duration
 have specific trigger conditions for each emotion
 basic emotions have specific patterns of activity of the autonomic nervous system
 basic emotions would have specific patterns of neural activities
 basic emotions would have specific expressive patterns
 Emkman 2009- the basic emotions are: happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, fear, disgust

Question 5

basic emotions and facial expressions

Answer 5

 Ekman and his associates have demonstrated the universality of emotional facial expressions by showing that western facial expressions were well recognized in a preliterate papa New-Guinea culture (Ekman & Friesen, 1971) they could recognise facial expressions and explain how someone would feel in certain situations. Showing emotional awareness and facial expressions occurs across cultures

 Facial expressions are considered as the pivot in communication between human beings (Ekman, 1982)
 Facial expression of each of the basic emotions has distinct adaptive functions
 Expressive behavior is also suggested to be fundamental in child development (Izard & King, 2009)

Question 6

issues with basic emotion theories

Answer 6

 There has been no consensus among basic emotion theorists about the precise number of basic emotions

• Basic emotions says emotional facial expressions result from neuromotor programs which trigger the emotional facial expressions in their entirety. However appraisal theories show results of appraisal are linked to specific facial movements
• Scherer shows basic emotions are restrictive- he proposed a more flexible. Varied approach that says appraisal is an emotional trigger.
• The idea that functionally independent modular systems specific to each emotion is criticised- the amygdala is acc thought of as a relevance detector not specific to fear. The insular cortex would not be specifically linked to disgust, but involved in a number of processes based on interoceptive information
• Argued that Peripheral Phycho-physiological responses differ because of appraisal of a situation and not a reflex like program (which basic emotions argues)