Oct 3 - What is an emotion?

Question 1

According to William James:

Are emotions a “separate and special” kind of mental state? Or a combination of other mental states ?

Answer 1

a combination of other mental states

(analogy: atoms vs. molecules)

(I think)

Question 2

Name the three early models of emotion

William shot a Cannon and then Sang about it

Answer 2

1. William James
2. Cannon-Bard
3. Schacter-Singer

Question 3

Critical questions for William James:

What are the three components of emotion?

1. “perception of the exciting fact” (_______)
   e. g. see the bear
2. “the mental affection called the emotion” (________, _____)
   e. g. feel afraid
3. “bodily expression” (________)
   e. g. physiological reaction

Answer 3

“perception of the exciting fact” (appraisal)

“the mental affection called the emotion” (feelings, affect)

“bodily expression” (physiology)

Question 4

The “common sense” account

Answer 4

Question 5

The James-Lange Theory

Answer 5

Question 6

James’s arguments

_________ origins of emotions

_______ initiation of an emotion

Cannot imagine an emotion without ______ ________

Answer 6

Evolutionary

Passive

bodily responses

Question 7

Testable predictions of James-Lange:

• Specific emotions have specific ________ signatures
• Subjective experience depends on information traveling from the ____ to the _____
• Bodily reactions must be faster than ________ experience

Answer 7

physiological

body to the brain

subjective

Question 8

The Cannon-Bard Theory:

Answer 8

Question 9

Schachter and Singer:

• Accepted Cannon-Bard evidence for _______, _________ ________
• Accepted Cannon-Bard (and James- Lange) claim that physiological response is ________

Answer 9

general, nonspecific arousal

automatic

Question 10

Schachter and Singer:

• Question: What role does ________ (interpretations of events) play in human emotions?
• Research strategy: compare people with the same _________ response but different ___________ of an event.
• Do they subjectively experience different emotions?

Answer 10

cognition

physiological; interpretations

Question 11

The Schachter-Singer Theory (Also known as the Two-Factor Theory)

Answer 11

Question 12

The legacy of James-Lange vs. Cannon-Bard:

• Ongoing debate about _______ of ___ physiology
• Much interest in ___ specificity

Answer 12

specificity: ANS

CNS

Question 13

The legacy of Schachter-Singer:

• Appraisals – interpretations of _____ and their _________ for the individual’s well-being.

Answer 13

events; significance (i.e. threat, challenge)