Module 7 Lesson 2 - Emotion Flashcards
Emotion
A state of feeling that can involve expression, behaviors, and even physical arousal.
What are the important theories of emotion?
- James-Lange Theory
- Cannon-Bard Theory
- Schachter-Singer (Two-Factor) Theory
- Zajonc & LeDoux’s Theory
- Lazarus’s Theory (Cognitive Appraisal)
James-Lange Theory
States that emotions are felt due to physiological reactions to events.
Ex. You are nervous because your body is trembling.
Cannon-Bard Theory
States that emotions and physiological reactions to events happen at the same time.
Ex. You are nervous and trembling.
Schachter-Singer (Two-Factor) Theory
States that a stimulus causes a physiological reaction first, then an emotional response.
Ex. An intruder breaks into the house. You see him, you start screaming, then you are scared and running.
Zajonc & LeDoux’s Theory (Social Facilitation)
(Social Facilitation) states that emotions can come about in two separate ways, the low road or the high road. The “low road” is an unconscious reaction to stimuli while the “high road” is a conscious reaction to stimuli.
Ex. The “low road” could be feeling sad. We may be thinking about someone that isn’t around and not realize we are responding.
Lazarus’s Theory (Cognitive Appraisal)
(Cognitive Appraisal) states that the emotional reaction is due to your interpretation of the event.
Ex. If you received a B on a very hard test, you are relieved due to your interpretation of the difficulty of the test. Your classmate thought the test was easy and is very disappointed to receive the same letter grade of a B.
How can emotions be measured?
Emotions can be measured using Polygraph Machines.
Polygraph Machines are used to…
Known as a lie detector test, they measure heart rate, blood pressure, and other physiological responses to questions.
Are lie detector tests reliable?
They are not deemed reliable by psychologists due to factors such as a client’s anxiety level.
What is the Galvanic Skin Response?
When an electrode is placed on the skin of your hand, which is not deemed to be reliable by psychologists as it is likened to a lie detector.
What are some emotional behaviors?
- Catharsis
- Feel-good, Do-good Phenomenon
- Subjective Well-being
- Adaptation-level Phenomenon
- Relative Deprivation
- Facial Feedback Effect
Catharsis
When a person first has an emotional release after a significant event, like a sense of relief.
Feel-good, Do-good Phenomenon
When a person helps others, they feel good about themselves.
Thus, when people volunteer, they can improve their mental and emotional health!
Subjective Well-being
When a person judges their own happiness or personal well-being.
Adaptation-level Phenomenon
The propensity that people have to adjust to a situation until their adaptation becomes a new normal.
Relative Deprivation
The negative comparison of yourself to others.
Ex. Snowboarding athletes all train together and one team member doesn’t make it to medal status. They may feel they are “worse off” because they all trained together and the others earned a medal.
Facial Feedback Effect
A theory that states that facial expressions can influence your attitude.
Ex. If you smile when you are unhappy, you may begin to feel better.
How does the body express emotion?
The autonomic nervous system controls the nerves, while the amygdala is known as the brain’s emotional center.”
What are the three parts of the autonomic nervous system that help with emotion?
The sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric systems which controls the “fight or flight” response and involuntary muscles such as the heart.
Locus of Control
The idea of controlling our immediate environment rather than feeling helpless or out of control.
External Locus of Control
The idea that pure chance or happenstance such as outside forces beyond an individual’s control determines an individual’s fate.
Internal Locus of Control
The idea or belief than an individual has total control over their unique fate in life.
Learned Helplessness
The idea that helplessness and passive resignation is learned or adapted when a person believes they are unable to avoid repeated aversive events that they believe are foisted upon them.
