Unit 8: Emotions Flashcards
How do emotions typically arise?
as reactions to life events
What do emotions do?
generate feelings
generate emotional states
activate body for action
produce recognisable facial expressions
What are the 5 eternal questions?
What is an emotion?
What causes an emotion?
How many emotions are there?
What is good about emotions?
What is the difference between emotion and mood?
Are emotions unidimensional?
no, they are multidimensional
What are the dimensions of emotions?
subjective
social
biological
intentional
subjective dimension
emotions as subjective feelings (sensations)
-> make us feel a particular way
social dimension
send postural and vocal signals communicating the intensity of emotions to others
biological dimension
emotions as biological reactions
mobilizers that prepare body do adapt
intentional dimension
emotions have purpose
Which dimension defines emotion the best?
none of them defines emotion (on its own) adequately
What are emotions?
short-term phenomena
related to feelings, stimulation, intention and expression
help us adapt
What’s the relationship between emotions and motivation?
emotions as motivators
-> energize and direct behavior
emotions as continuous “indicator” system
-> signal how well or poorly adaption is going
cognitive aspect of emotions
individuals can’t respond emotionally without cognitively evaluating the meaning/personal importance of an event
biological aspect of emotions
emotional reactions don’t always require cognitive appraisal
-> we act emotionally before we are aware of emotionality
What does the two systems perspective state?
- System: innate, spontaneous, physiological
- System: cognitive, based on experience
How does the emotional feedback loop work?
one can intervene at any point in the emotional circuit by changing the cognitive evaluation/ quality of the activation
-> influencing the emotion
What does the biological orientation emphasize in the context of primary and secondary emotions?
primary emotions emphasized
secondary/ acquired emotions downplayed
What does the cognitive perspective say about primary and secondary emotions?
recognizes primary emotions
highlights importance of individual, social and cultural experiences
How many emotions are there?
depends on perspective
biological: 2-10 basic emotions
cognitive: broader repertoire
What are the five common emotions?
fear
anger
sadness
disgust
joy
Are each of the common emotions just single emotions?
according to an intermediate perspective, they are a family of related emotions
What causes fear, what are key factors and how does it make us feel?
perception of threat to well-being, anticipation of harm
key factors: feeling of vulnerability, perceived lack of ability to confront threat
-> feeling overwhelmed
What causes sadness, what does it motivate us to do and why?
experiences of separation or failure
aversive experience -> motivates us to initiate behaviors necessary to alleviate distress-provoking circumstances
What provokes anger and what does it cause?
restriction, betrayal, rejection, unwarranted criticism
increases energy and feeling of control to fight injustice
can be verbal or non-verbal, direct or indirect
What is disgust related to and what is its function?
contaminated, deteriorated or rotten objects
rejection (protect physical safety)
How does disgust differ with different ages?
babies: sour & bitter tastes
children: also offensive objects
adults: encounters with contaminated food, poor hygiene and clotted blood
What is joy linked to and what is its purpose?
linked to success and interpersonal interaction
makes us optimistic and socially active, facilitates interaction & relationships
What did Darwin think about emotions?
help animals adapt to the environment
Is there such a thing as “bad” emotions
no, because they all help us adapt
What are the functions of emotions in a social context?
communicate feelings
influence interactions of others with us
invite and facilitate social interactions
create, maintain and dissolve relationships
What differentiates emotions from moods?
Background: emotions come from clear situations, moods from unknown processes
Action specificity: emotions influence behavior, moods cognition
Time course: emotions are brief, moods last longer
