Psychophysics & Emotion Theories Flashcards
Weber’s Law
Predicts the just noticeable difference (JND) for a stimulus is a CONSTANT PROPORTION, regardless of the intensity of the original stimulus. Applies only to some stimuli and mid-range intensities.
e.g., if the proportion is always 2% for weight, to notice a change in weight, a second object must be at least 2% lighter or heavier than the first object.
Fechner’s Law
Predicts that there’s a LOGARITHMIC relationship between psychological sensation and the magnitude of a physical stimulus. In other words, the JND “grows to an increasingly greater degree with each linear increment in intensity.” It’s more accurate than Weber’s law for stimuli at extreme intensities.
Stevens’s Power Law
Proposes that there’s an exponential relationship between psychological sensation and the magnitude of a physical stimulus and that the exponent varies for different stimuli. It is more accurate than Weber’s and Fechner’s laws.
James-Lange Theory
stimulus → physiological arousal → emotion
Cannon-Bard Theory
stimulus → physiological arousal & emotion
Schachter & Singer’s Two Factor Theory
AKA Cognitive Arousal Theory
stimulus → physiological arousal → attribution → emotion
Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory
stimulus → cognitive appraisal → physiological arousal & emotion
Misattribution of Arousal
tendency to mislabel arousal when its cause is unknown or ambiguous
e.g., The Capilano Suspension Bridge Study: In this 1974 study, men who met a woman on a dangerous suspension bridge were more likely to be attracted to her than men who met her on a safer bridge. The men’s physical arousal from crossing the bridge was misattributed to attraction to the woman.
Zillman’s Excitation Transfer Theory
It’s often erroneously described as being synonymous with misattribution of arousal. Although excitation transfer theory incorporates the concept of misattribution of arousal, Zillman described it as an explanation of how physical arousal elicited by one event can be transferred to and intensify arousal elicited by a later unrelated event.
Primary Appraisal (from Cognitive Appraisal Theory)
involves evaluating the event to determine if it’s irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful. When the person decides the event is stressful, he/she then determines if it involves a threat, a challenge, or harm/loss.
Secondary Appraisal (from Cognitive Appraisal Theory)
occurs when the person determines that the event is stressful and involves identifying his/her coping options and the likelihood that the options will adequately deal with the event.
Reappraisal (from Cognitive Appraisal Theory)
occurs when the person monitors the situation and, as appropriate, changes his/her primary and/or secondary appraisal.
