W9 - Emotion intro Flashcards
Definition of emotion?
biologically based responds to situations that are seen as personally relevant. They are shaped by learning and usually involve physiological changes, change to behaviour and to our experiences
Difference between emotion and mood?
emotion = immediate response to a specific object or situation (intense and short) Mood = diffuse, long lasting emotional states (not at the same intensity)
What were Charles Darwins views on emotion?
- emotions evolved as a survival mechanism - adapt functionality and emotions had a purpose
- expression and recognition is part of genetic fitness
- outward manifestation of an inner state - we automatically show how we feel on our face
- emotion helps communication
- universal
What was Ekmans neurocultural theory?
- emotional expression is adaptive
- not just a function of underlying states
- hard-wired connections links to each basic emotion
- cultural learning
What is behavioural ecology theory?
FRIDLUND 1994
- Communication with others most important
- emotions express behavioural intentions or social motives
- sensitivity to signal offers adaptive advantage
Explain the bowling pin study?
Kraut & Johnston 1979
- recorded faces
- smiling occurred less when facing pins regardless of outcome
- smiling dependent on social cues/ who they are with her emotional States
Explain the olympic champion study?
Fernandez-Dols & Ruiz-Bella 1995
- observed the 1992 medal ceremonies
- more smiling occurs during the social interaction aspect of the ceremony
- so potentially happiness not sufficient to induce smiling?
What is the James-Lange theory of emotion?
- the idea that a change in our body elicits the fear or subjective experience
- so…
Stimulus -> body response -> subjective experience
Limitations of the James Lange theory
- different emotions but same physiological changes so hard to tell
- physiological changes - too subtle for us to notice
- timing - do we always cry when we feel sad?
- Physiological arousal does not always result in the experience of emotion
What is the Cannon-bard theory?
- emotional expression can’t always be inhibited or controlled
- physiological changes are automatic & occur soon after birth
- located emotion experience in the thalamus
so
stimulus -> thalamus that then results in subjective experience and body response
What was the creaky bridge experiment?
Dutton and Aron 1974
- assigned either creaky or stable bridge
- confronted with qs from an attractive female experiment
- more calls were received from those In the dangerous bridge condition
- misattribution of arousal to as attraction…
What is the two factor theory of emotion?
Schachter & Singer
Stimulus -> body response -> awareness of arousal _> then use cognitive appraisal of the situation to determine most appropriate emotion
What is anger?
- defined as an emotional state with the desire to hurt someone or to drive that individual away
- can be associated to aggression either hostile or instrumental
What are the functions of anger?
positive = improve relations, elicit power status, result in individual getting what they want
negative = drive people away, dissatisfaction, loneliness, frustration
What elicits anger?
Scherer 1997
- questionnaire on basic emotions
- found that anger related unpleasant, unfair situations that were deliberately caused by someone else
