Emotion Emotion Emotion A four part process that

Emotion

Emotion �Emotion – A four part process that involves physiological arousal, subjective feelings, cognitive interpretation, and behavioral expression – all of which interact, rather than occurring in a linear sequence. �Helps organisms deal with important events.

Evolution and Emotion �Emotions have evolved to help us respond to important situation and to convey our intentions to others.

Evolution and Emotion �Example � Sexual jealousy probably has an evolutionary basis because mate infidelity threatens the individual’s chances of producing offspring.

Cultural Universals in Emotional Expression �Most emotions, but not all, are universally understood regardless of culture. �Facial expressions are used to convey universal messages and motions.

Cultural Universals in Emotional Expression �Display Rules – The permissible ways of displaying emotions in a particular society.

Counting the Emotions �How many emotions are there? �Probably over 500, but 7 are universally recognized. � Anger � Disgust � Fear � Happiness � Sadness � Contempt � Surprise

The Purpose of Emotions �Emotions are normally meant to help us adapt to our environment and signal others how we are feeling. � But, if too intense or prolonged, they may become destructive and detrimental to our mental health.

Emotional Differences b/t Men and Women �Biology �Culture �Gender Stereotypes �Differences in Punishment and Reinforcement

Where Do Emotions Come From? �Unconscious Emotions: �The Limbic System � Fight or Flight – Attack, Defense, Retreat �The Reticular Formation � Responsible for emotional reactions such as fear and anger in emergency situations. � Early warning system. � Communicates with Amygdala and Thalamus to help arouse the brain in emergencies.

Where Do Emotions Come From? �Conscious Emotions �The Cerebral Cortex � Interprets events and associates them with memories and feelings to create emotions. � Lateralization of Emotion – The different influences of the two brain hemispheres on various emotions. � Left Hemisphere influences positive emotions. � Right Hemisphere influences negative emotions.

Where Do Emotions Come From? �Autonomic Nervous System �Plays the key role in emotionally arousing your internal organs (like your heart) in different situations.

Where do Emotions Come From? �Sympathetic Division of Nervous System – Helps us respond to unpleasant stimuli. �Parasympathetic Division of the Nervous System – Helps us respond to pleasant stimuli.

Where Do Emotions Come From? �The Role of Hormones �Serotonin – Depression �Epinephrine – Fear �Norepinephrine – Anger �Steroids – Change the way nerve cells that release hormones are excited. � Why people on steroids become angry easier… Roid Rage.

Psychological Theories of Emotion �James – Lange Theory �The proposal that an emotion provoking stimulus produces a physical response that, in turn, produces and emotion.

Psychological Theories of Emotion �Cannon-Bard Theory �The counter-proposal that an emotional feeling and an internal physiological response occur at the same time: One is not the cause of the other. �Both were believed to be the result of cognitive appraisal of the situation.

Psychological Theories of Emotion �Schachter’s Two Factor Theory �The proposal claiming that emotion results from the cognitive appraisal of both physical arousal (Factor 1) and an emotion provoking stimulus (Factor 2).

Psychological Theories of Emotion �Cognitive Appraisal Theory �Theory of emotion which theorizes that individuals decide on an appropriate emotion following the event. � Make a conscious decision about how we should feel after the event has occurred.

Psychological Theories of Emotion �Opponent-Process Theory �Theory of emotion which Theorizes that emotions have pairs. �When one is triggered, the other is suppressed. � Example emotion. – When we feel happy, sad is the suppressed

Emotion and Athletic Performance �Inverted U Function – Describes the relationship between arousal and performance. �Both high and low levels of arousal produce lower performance than does a moderate level of arousal. �Sensation seekers – Individuals who have a biological need for higher levels of stimulation than do other people.

How Much Control do We Have Over Our Emotions? �Although emotional responses are not always consciously regulated, we can learn to control them.

How Much Control do We Have Over Our Emotions? �Emotional Intelligence – The ability to understand control emotional responses. �Helps significantly in having the ability to properly control our emotions.

How Much Control do We Have Over Our Emotions? �Detecting Deceptions �Lie Detectors (Polygraphs) used to detect deceptions to determine if people are lying. � Can be inaccurate and have many flaws. � Physiological signs are not always telling of whether or not people are lying, which is why they’re often inaccurate. � Polygraphs are really just arousal detectors.