EmotionEmotion

EmotionEmotion

It is at the heart of who we are as It is at the heart of who we are as peoplepeople

It often is a reflection of our It often is a reflection of our mental statemental state

We are going to look at different We are going to look at different theories that try to explain how theories that try to explain how and and why we have emotionswhy we have emotions

EmotionEmotion Emotion involves …Emotion involves …

feeling, thinking, feeling, thinking, activation of the nervous system, activation of the nervous system, and behavioral changes such as facial expressionsand behavioral changes such as facial expressions

Emotions can differ in intensity and qualityEmotions can differ in intensity and quality Emotions can differ from culture and genderEmotions can differ from culture and gender

Which comes first, your emotional feelings or your bodily sensations??

In other words, does your body react to your feelings or are your feelings an interpretation of

your bodily sensations??

Evolution Theory of EmotionEvolution Theory of Emotion Darwin Darwin

Said that emotions evolved Said that emotions evolved because they had adaptive value because they had adaptive value

Example – fear evolved because it Example – fear evolved because it helped people act in ways that helped people act in ways that

enhanced their chances of survivalenhanced their chances of survival Also said…Also said…

Facial expressions are innate or hard Facial expressions are innate or hard wired wired

What??What??

The James-Lange TheoryThe James-Lange Theory Theorized that we feel emotion because we first Theorized that we feel emotion because we first

experience and notice biological changesexperience and notice biological changes We don’t cry because we are sad, we are sad because We don’t cry because we are sad, we are sad because

we crywe cry

So…So… biological changes (fast beating heart) emotion (fear)biological changes (fast beating heart) emotion (fear) There is a lag between bodily reaction There is a lag between bodily reaction

and the emotion we expressand the emotion we express

Ex: So if I jump out and scare the living daylights out of you, your heart Ex: So if I jump out and scare the living daylights out of you, your heart begins begins to race and that bodily change causes you to experience and to race and that bodily change causes you to experience and

express fear express fear

Cannon-Bard TheoryCannon-Bard Theory (Doubted the J-L order of events)(Doubted the J-L order of events)

C-B said the experience of emotion happens at C-B said the experience of emotion happens at the same time that biological change the same time that biological change

happens happens

neither one causes the other (they are neither one causes the other (they are independent of each other)independent of each other)

Ex: We see a bear, we experience fear and a pounding heart at the same Ex: We see a bear, we experience fear and a pounding heart at the same time - - no lagtime - - no lag

So…So…• Fear + biological changes reactionFear + biological changes reaction

Schacter Two-Factor Schacter Two-Factor Theory of EmotionTheory of Emotion

Emotion depends on the interaction between Emotion depends on the interaction between biologybiology and and cognitioncognition (interpretation of events) (interpretation of events) 1st you experience physiological arousal 1st you experience physiological arousal (biology)(biology) and then and then

find a label in our mind find a label in our mind (cognition)(cognition) to explain the emotion to explain the emotion This then leads to a emotion or feelingThis then leads to a emotion or feeling So…So…

• BiologyBiology Cognition Cognition Emotion Emotion

EX: My heart races when I see a scary movie and it may EX: My heart races when I see a scary movie and it may race when my car spins out of controlrace when my car spins out of control One is labeled or interpreted as One is labeled or interpreted as “pleasurable excitement”“pleasurable excitement”

and one as and one as “sheer terror”“sheer terror” It depends on my interpretationIt depends on my interpretation

Example – Sight of oncoming car Example – Sight of oncoming car (perception of stimulus)(perception of stimulus)

pounding heart pounding heart (arousal)(arousal)

fear fear (emotion)(emotion)

Fear Fear (emotion)(emotion)

cognitive label cognitive label (“I’m afraid)(“I’m afraid)

pounding heartpounding heart(arousal)(arousal)

pounding heart pounding heart (arousal)(arousal)

Fear Fear

(emotion)(emotion)

James-Lange TheoryJames-Lange Theory

C-B TheoryC-B Theory

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Schacter Schacter

Two-Factor TheoryTwo-Factor Theory

++

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The feeling of emotion can happen two different The feeling of emotion can happen two different ways in the brainways in the brain

““DUAL-PATHWAY MODEL OF FEAR”DUAL-PATHWAY MODEL OF FEAR”

First path - immediate route First path - immediate route Goes straight to the amygdala allows people to Goes straight to the amygdala allows people to

respond rapidly to events respond rapidly to events Fight or Flight Response – “get away fast”Fight or Flight Response – “get away fast”

Second path - deliberate routeSecond path - deliberate route Goes to frontal cortex and allows people to Goes to frontal cortex and allows people to

appraise events more slowly appraise events more slowly ““should I run?”should I run?”

““DUAL-PATHWAY MODEL OF DUAL-PATHWAY MODEL OF FEAR”FEAR”

1st “Run !!!!”No thinking

22ndnd “This could be bad, I should move!!” “This could be bad, I should move!!”Cognition is involvedCognition is involved

Measuring EmotionMeasuring Emotion Galvanic skin responseGalvanic skin response

measures an increase in the skin’s rate of electrical conductivity

i.e. muscle contractions

Polygraph tests – or lie detector Polygraph tests – or lie detector Examines a persons heart rate by asking questions

about a particular subject not a real good measure

Expression of EmotionExpression of Emotion Emotions – Are they Universal?Emotions – Are they Universal?

six basic emotions six basic emotions

• happiness, sadness, anger, fear,happiness, sadness, anger, fear, surprise, and disgustsurprise, and disgust

The Facial-feedback hypothesisThe Facial-feedback hypothesis

Turn that frown upside down…

See what happens!!!