Week 7: Emotion and Motivation

Question 1

Emotion

Answer 1

Emotions are a state, meaning that they are changeable, and can change quickly.

Emotions are moment to moment responses to some sort of eliciting event, this can be either external or they can be internal.

Emotions have physiological, cognitive and behavioural elements

Question 2

Mood

Answer 2

Longer lasting than emotions, can be more trait like with less extreme changes.

Question 3

Affect

Answer 3

An umbrella term for emotion, mood, AND stress response

Question 4

Aspects of emotion

Answer 4

Appraisal, cognitive part of the emotional experience, and Arousal, the physiological part of the emotional experience.

Question 5

Intrapersonal functions

Answer 5

Intra means within, so intrapersonal mean within the self, intrapersonal factors in psychology might include self-esteem, personality, self-efficacy etc.

Intrapersonal functions of emotions help us to direct our attention and actions as needed.

Question 6

Interpersonal functions

Answer 6

Inter means between, so interpersonal means between people.

Interpersonal factors in psychology might include family relationships, peer support, attachment etc.

Question 7

Expressive and Instrumental Behaviours

Answer 7

Expressive behaviours communicate how we feel to others (e.g., smiling, laughing communicate happiness),

Instrumental behaviours attempt to change the environment in some way (e.g., glaring at someone to stop their behaviour)

Question 8

Theories of emotion

Answer 8

James-Lange: A peripheral (somatic) theory: According to this theory our physical sensations determine the emotion we subjectively experience.

Cannon-Bard: A central theory: Suggests that we can feel things before the physiological response occurs, so emotion starts in the brain

Schachter-Singer: A cognitive theory: Suggests that it is our interpretation of the arousal we feel that dictates the emotion experienced. This theory requires both appraisal and arousal​.​

Lazarus: A cognitive appraisal theory: Suggests it is specifically how we appraise the stimulus that impacts the emotion we feel.

Gross’ Modal model​: suggests that for an emotion to occur, some 1. situation (internal or external) occurs that 2. compels our attention, is 3. appraised as having some meaning, and then a 4. response occurs to modify the situation, and that response is the expressed emotion. (Gross is also the only one of these theorists to suggest that emotions can be actively regulated.)

Question 9

Motivation

Answer 9

a process that influences the direction, persistence and vigour of goal directed behaviour

Question 10

Perspectives on motivation

Answer 10

An important concept in biological ideas of motivation is that of Homeostasis.

Another theory suggests that we are motivated to maximise pleasure and minimise pain, which indicated the existence of two opposing systems: the behavioural activation system (BAS) which describes an approach orientation or an increase in activity towards a positive outcome, and the behavioural inhibition system (BIS) which describes an avoidant orientation or inhibition of activity to avoid negative outcomes.

Question 11

Theories to explain motivation

Answer 11

Humanistic Theory: Maslow – Hierarchy of needs, takes motivation beyond homeostasis and adds motivation to strive for growth

Self-determination theory (SDT): Deci and Ryan proposes three fundamental human needs: competence, autonomy and, relatedness.