Part 1 Flashcards
James-Lange theory
Event -> Physiological Response -> Subjective Experience (feeling)
Emotional feelings are based directly on the way the body reacts to certain situations
Every emotion is unique because they are all slightly different combinations of physiological responses
Cannon-Bard theory
Emotional cognitions and feelings are causally independent of physiological arousal and behaviour although these aspects all occur at the same time
Schachter-Singer Theory
Two-factor theory
Physiological arousal determines intensity but not specific emotional state
We use context to understand what is going on and which emotional state we are experiencing
What are the four criteria that should comprise an emotion if it is basic?
- Universal (apparent across cultures and to some extent among other species)
- Functional to a specific prototypical life event
- Distinct, innate way of expressing it
- Evident in early life
- Physiologically distinct
Which theory is the basic/discrete emotion model most closely aligned with?
James-Lange theory
Describe the circumplex model
Emotional feelings form a circle defined by the dimensions of pleasantness and arousal
Places emphasis on the feeling aspect of emotion
Using the circumplex model, excitement can be described as…
a combination of pleasure and high arousal
Using the circumplex model, contentment can be described as…
a combination of pleasure and low arousal
Core affect
The feeling aspect of emotion in terms of pleasantness and arousal
Describe the evaluative space model
Positive and negative feelings are independent dimensions and can still coexist
What are three points of agreement among the dimensional models (i.e., the circumplex model and evaluative space model)?
- They emphasize the feeling aspect of emotion
- They agree that emotional feelings are best described in terms of continuous dimensions rather than discrete categories
- They emphasize that feelings are mainly defined in terms of valence (positive and negative) and degree of arousal
The component process model
Same set of appraisal dimensions (i.e., novelty, pleasantness, certainty, etc.) used to evaluate the significance of every event we experience
Emotion as a latent process
We see emotions through physiological responses, behavioural responses, cognitive responses, and feeling states
Emotions exist and are reflected out to the world
Emotion as an emergent process
Emotions are the product of physiology, behaviour, cognition, and feelings
If some characteristic is proposed as an adaptation that does not mean that it is functional now. The characteristic would have been functional in its…
environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA)
Environment of evolutionary adaptedness (EEA)
The time and place when a certain characteristic spread as a result of natural selection
How might emotional responses be considered by-products of natural selection?
Emotional responses are more likely to be byproducts of responses that promoted survival and reproduction.
Ex; an emotional response such as cuteness towards baby animals is most likely a by product of responses that prompt caring for our offspring
Intrapersonal functions of emotions
Directly benefits individual
ex; fear facilitates individual to escape
Many negative emotions can be explained by intrapersonal function
Emotions serve important social functions. Love an embarrassment have something in common…
they both help to establish and stabilize relationships with other people
The affect infusion model states that…
emotional feelings influence our judgements and decisions
i.e., people in good moods are often on autopilot whereas people in bad moods are more critical
According to Jeffery Gray, the brain includes two systems that is the functional core of emotional responding
Behavioural activation system
- Promotes approaching opportunities
Behavioural inhibition system
- Promotes threat detection and avoidance
Tooby and Cosmides define emotions as…
superordinate neural programs
What does it mean to think of emotions as having a phylogeny/ evolutionary tree of their own?
Thinking that newer emotions evolved from more archaic ones in response to new selection pressures
According to Tooby and Cosmides, emotion is a ____________ program that coordinates many ___________. How does this work exactly?
superordinate; subprograms (i.e., facial affect)
Basically, emotion acts as an organizing program that coordinates one’s behaviour and actions to solve problems
What are Darwin’s two functions of emotion expression?
- Adaptation
- emotion as a cue
- physiological regulation - Exaptation
- social communication
- convey information to others
Two branches of the autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic and parasympathetic
Sympathetic nervous system
Fight or flight
Increases heart rate, breathing rate, sweating, and blood flow to muscles
Dilates pupils
Parasympathetic nervous system
Rest and digest
Increases salvation, digestion
Decreases heart rate, breathing
What is the benefit of the combined input of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems? What is an analogy for this?
More precise control
The gas pedal and brake analogy
The endocrine system
Glands and hormones combined
What two hormones play central roles in our responses to stress?
Epinephrine (aka adrenaline) and cortisol
What are some ways to measure physiological aspects of emotion?
Heart rate
- avg interbeat interval
Pupil diameter
- eye-tracking
Electrodermal activity
- changes in how well skin conducts electricity
- detects increased sweat gland activity