Psychology 250Psychology 250

Lecture 13Lecture 13

Kevin R SmithKevin R Smith

What is an Emotion?What is an Emotion?

Emotions are subjective experiences Emotions are subjective experiences that arise spontaneously and that arise spontaneously and unconsciously in response to the unconsciously in response to the environment around us environment around us

Emotions have two components:Emotions have two components:• physical reaction (rapid heartbeat, etc ) physical reaction (rapid heartbeat, etc ) • conscious experience or feeling conscious experience or feeling

Why do we have emotions?Why do we have emotions? Task performance Task performance

increases with increases with arousal (to an arousal (to an extent)extent)

CommunicationCommunication

The Yerkes-Dodson Law

Innervation of the Facial Innervation of the Facial MusclesMuscles

The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) controls deep The trigeminal nerve (cranial nerve V) controls deep muscles involved with chewing food and speaking muscles involved with chewing food and speaking

The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) The facial nerve (cranial nerve VII) controls the surface muscles controls the surface muscles involved with facial expression involved with facial expression • The upper face receives both The upper face receives both

contralateral and ipsilateral input contralateral and ipsilateral input • The lower face receives only The lower face receives only

contralateral input contralateral input • Conclusion: it’s easier to control Conclusion: it’s easier to control

movement of the lower face movement of the lower face

Voluntary and Involuntary Voluntary and Involuntary Expressions Use Different Expressions Use Different

PathwaysPathways Voluntary expressions (smile for the camera) involve primary motor Voluntary expressions (smile for the camera) involve primary motor

cortex cortex Spontaneous expressions (smiling at a joke) involve extrapyramidal Spontaneous expressions (smiling at a joke) involve extrapyramidal

pathways pathways People with cortical damage (as shown) can smile spontaneously, People with cortical damage (as shown) can smile spontaneously,

but not on command but not on command

People with People with extrapyramidal damage extrapyramidal damage can smile on command, can smile on command, but not spontaneously but not spontaneously

Major Expressions are Major Expressions are Universal: GeneticUniversal: Genetic

Major expressions are Major expressions are the same across many the same across many diverse cultures diverse cultures

Blind infants Blind infants demonstrate major demonstrate major emotional expressions emotional expressions (e g social smile) at (e g social smile) at the same time as the same time as sighted infants sighted infants

Infants protest Infants protest separation from separation from mothers at the same mothers at the same time across cultures time across cultures

Can You Label These Can You Label These Emotions?Emotions?

Courtesy Dr Paul Ekman

Environmental factors can Environmental factors can override biological expressionsoverride biological expressions

Doctors learn to withhold expressions Doctors learn to withhold expressions of disgust of disgust

Cultures influence how expressive we Cultures influence how expressive we are in group situations are in group situations • American students are about as American students are about as

expressive when alone as when in a group expressive when alone as when in a group of strangers of strangers

• Japanese students are more expressive Japanese students are more expressive when alone than when in a group of when alone than when in a group of strangers strangers

Individual DifferencesIndividual Differences

Temperament differs at birth (Kagan) Temperament differs at birth (Kagan) • Very responsive babies may develop Very responsive babies may develop

anxiety disorders later in life anxiety disorders later in life • Low responders may develop antisocial Low responders may develop antisocial

behaviors later in life behaviors later in life Psychopaths are extremely non-Psychopaths are extremely non-

responsive, possibly leading to lack responsive, possibly leading to lack of empathy of empathy

Paul Ekman Says We Can Spot Paul Ekman Says We Can Spot Some LiarsSome Liars

Timing (real emotions are fast, Timing (real emotions are fast, spontaneous)spontaneous)

““Match” between body language and verbal Match” between body language and verbal cuescues

Lying reduces articulationLying reduces articulation Less upper body movement, more lower Less upper body movement, more lower

body movementbody movement Nervous laughterNervous laughter Eye contact is a clue in the US, but not in all Eye contact is a clue in the US, but not in all

culturescultures

Do Lie Detector Machines Work?Do Lie Detector Machines Work?

Theories of EmotionTheories of Emotion The James-Lange Theory: The James-Lange Theory:

specific pattern of autonomic specific pattern of autonomic arousal leads to identificationarousal leads to identification• ““we feel sorry because we cry, we feel sorry because we cry,

angry because we strike, and afraid angry because we strike, and afraid because we tremble”because we tremble”

Other Theories of EmotionOther Theories of Emotion The Cannon-Bard Theory: autonomic arousal The Cannon-Bard Theory: autonomic arousal

and identification occur simultaneouslyand identification occur simultaneously The Schachter Theory: general arousal leads The Schachter Theory: general arousal leads

to cognitive appraisal of the situation and the to cognitive appraisal of the situation and the emotion is identifiedemotion is identified

Support for the James-Lange Support for the James-Lange TheoryTheory

Hohmann reported Hohmann reported more emotionality in more emotionality in men with lumbar men with lumbar damage than in men damage than in men with cervical damage with cervical damage

Supports James-Lange Supports James-Lange provision regarding provision regarding the importance of the importance of autonomic feedback autonomic feedback

Less consistent with Less consistent with Cannon-Bard and Cannon-Bard and Schachter Schachter

Theories of Emotion and the Theories of Emotion and the Capilano Bridge ExperimentCapilano Bridge Experiment

Men confused fear of the bridge with Men confused fear of the bridge with sexual arousal sexual arousal • Men on high scary bridge more likely to Men on high scary bridge more likely to

incorporate sexuality into their stories incorporate sexuality into their stories than men on lower bridgethan men on lower bridge

© Ted Streshinsky/CORBIS

James-Lange Theory assumes that emotions produce distinct physical responses

Support for the other theoriesSupport for the other theories

Both Cannon-Bard and Schachter would Both Cannon-Bard and Schachter would predict the Capilano Bridge resultspredict the Capilano Bridge results

Further Support for Schachter’s theoryFurther Support for Schachter’s theory• Patients were told they would receive an Patients were told they would receive an

injection of a vitamin (actually epinephrine, injection of a vitamin (actually epinephrine, which increases arousal)which increases arousal)

• Observed either an actor that was happy after Observed either an actor that was happy after the injection, or was angry after injectionthe injection, or was angry after injection

• Based on what they observed, they interpreted Based on what they observed, they interpreted their own feelings equivalentlytheir own feelings equivalently

Theories of Emotion and Theories of Emotion and CatharsisCatharsis

Catharsis: expression reduces emotion: NOT Catharsis: expression reduces emotion: NOT TRUETRUE

Expressing an emotion reinforces the feeling Expressing an emotion reinforces the feeling • Maori haka moves used by the New Zealand All Maori haka moves used by the New Zealand All

BlacksBlacks• Imitation as the basis of empathyImitation as the basis of empathy• Consistent with James-LangeConsistent with James-Lange

Focus New Zealand Photo Library© Reuters/CORBIS

Brain Mechanisms of Emotion: The Brain Mechanisms of Emotion: The Limbic SystemLimbic System

Paul Broca: the Paul Broca: the “limbic lobe” “limbic lobe” contains contains hippocampus, hippocampus, medial temporal medial temporal lobe and cingulate lobe and cingulate gyrus gyrus

Modern inclusion of Modern inclusion of orbitofrontal cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, nucleus accumbens, hypothalamus, septal hypothalamus, septal area, amygdalaarea, amygdala

The Amygdala and EmotionThe Amygdala and Emotion Klüver-Bucy syndrome Klüver-Bucy syndrome

(amygdala damage) (amygdala damage) reduces fear reduces fear

Human damage to the Human damage to the amygdala produces amygdala produces difficulty identifying fear difficulty identifying fear and anger and anger

Autistics have problems Autistics have problems identifying the emotions of identifying the emotions of other people: have an other people: have an abnormal amygdalaabnormal amygdala

The amygdala contains The amygdala contains many benzodiazepine many benzodiazepine receptors receptors • TranquilizersTranquilizers

Stimulation can produce Stimulation can produce fear and anxiety fear and anxiety

Imaging studies show more Imaging studies show more activity in the amygdala activity in the amygdala when viewing expressions when viewing expressions of fear of fear

Hemisphere Lateralization for Hemisphere Lateralization for Emotion Influences PerceptionEmotion Influences Perception

Which face Which face looks happy?looks happy?

Which face Which face looks sad?looks sad?

The right The right hemisphere hemisphere usually usually “reads” “reads” emotion emotion

The Emotional Right Hemisphere The Emotional Right Hemisphere Produces More Expression on the Produces More Expression on the

Left Side of the FaceLeft Side of the Face

Normal photo Two left sides Two right sides

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Different Emotions Produce Different Emotions Produce Patterns of Brain ActivationPatterns of Brain Activation

Feeling excluded from a game Feeling excluded from a game produced activity in the cingulate produced activity in the cingulate gyrus, an area that responds to gyrus, an area that responds to physical pain physical pain

Recreating feelings of anger, Recreating feelings of anger, happiness, sadness and fear happiness, sadness and fear produced distinct patterns of brain produced distinct patterns of brain activation, but single areas could activation, but single areas could participate in more than one emotion participate in more than one emotion

AggressionAggression

Aggression is the intentional Aggression is the intentional initiation of hostile or destructive initiation of hostile or destructive acts acts

Aggression probably results from a Aggression probably results from a complex combination of biological complex combination of biological and learned variables and learned variables

Genetics and AggressionGenetics and Aggression Human twin studies support a role for Human twin studies support a role for

genetics in aggression genetics in aggression Aggression can be selectively bred in Aggression can be selectively bred in

animals animals However, murder rates vary widely across However, murder rates vary widely across

cultures so society must play a rolecultures so society must play a role• Athens, Greece has 0 55 murders per 100,000 Athens, Greece has 0 55 murders per 100,000

people, compared to 41 12 in Pretoria, South people, compared to 41 12 in Pretoria, South Africa Africa

• Washington, D C has a rate of 45 79 murders Washington, D C has a rate of 45 79 murders per 100,000 people, compared to 8 77 in New per 100,000 people, compared to 8 77 in New York City York City

Brain Structure and AggressionBrain Structure and Aggression Removal of cortices Removal of cortices

produces sham rageproduces sham rage• Violence provoked Violence provoked

for no reason (a for no reason (a pat on the head of pat on the head of a dog) a dog)

Stimulation of the Stimulation of the hypothalamus in cats hypothalamus in cats provokes attack and provokes attack and hunting behaviors hunting behaviors

Removal or lesions of Removal or lesions of the amygdala reduce the amygdala reduce aggression aggression

Orbitofrontal cortex Orbitofrontal cortex damage is associated damage is associated with human violencewith human violence

Autonomic Autonomic abnormalities may abnormalities may correlate with correlate with aggression aggression

Biochemistry and AggressionBiochemistry and Aggression Alcohol is related to Alcohol is related to

increased aggression:increased aggression:• 65% of murders 65% of murders • 55% of child abuse 55% of child abuse • More than 50% of suicides More than 50% of suicides

Testosterone:Testosterone:• Children of mothers given Children of mothers given

testosterone during testosterone during pregnancy are more pregnancy are more aggressive aggressive

• High, but not moderate, High, but not moderate, testosterone levels are testosterone levels are correlated with aggression correlated with aggression

• Testosterone levels may Testosterone levels may rise in response to rise in response to competition competition

Administration of Testosterone to Administration of Testosterone to Castrated Mice Re-establishes Castrated Mice Re-establishes

Attack BehaviorAttack Behavior

Serotonin and AggressionSerotonin and Aggression

Low serotonin is associated with both Low serotonin is associated with both aggression and depression aggression and depression

Alpha male rhesus monkeys have Alpha male rhesus monkeys have higher serotonin than subordinates, higher serotonin than subordinates, and subordinates initiate much more and subordinates initiate much more aggression aggression

Depression and suicide may Depression and suicide may represent aggression towards the represent aggression towards the self self

StressStress

Stress is defined as “an unpleasant Stress is defined as “an unpleasant and disruptive state resulting from and disruptive state resulting from the perception of danger or threat ”the perception of danger or threat ”

““Stressors” are sources of stress Stressors” are sources of stress Walter Cannon described the Walter Cannon described the

activation of a “fight or flight” activation of a “fight or flight” system by stressors system by stressors

Hans Selye Hans Selye and the and the General General Adaptation Adaptation SyndromeSyndrome

The Stress ResponseThe Stress Response

Sensory systems identify a stimulus Sensory systems identify a stimulus (there’s a lion in front of me) (there’s a lion in front of me)

Higher cognitive centers identify the Higher cognitive centers identify the stimulus as a stressor (memories of lions stimulus as a stressor (memories of lions and their eating habits) and their eating habits)

Sensory information also travels to the Sensory information also travels to the amygdala, which identifies danger amygdala, which identifies danger

The amygdala notifies the hypothalamus The amygdala notifies the hypothalamus of danger, activating the hypothalamic-of danger, activating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

The HPA Axis IThe HPA Axis I

Sensory information Sensory information reaches amygdala reaches amygdala

The amygdala sends The amygdala sends information to the information to the hypothalamus via the hypothalamus via the stria terminalis stria terminalis

The paraventricular The paraventricular hypothalamus hypothalamus releases CRH, which releases CRH, which affects the anterior affects the anterior pituitary pituitary

HPA Axis IIHPA Axis II The anterior pituitary releases ACTH The anterior pituitary releases ACTH In response to ACTH, the adrenal glands In response to ACTH, the adrenal glands

release cortisol release cortisol Cortisol influences many neurons in the Cortisol influences many neurons in the

brain, increasing the release of several brain, increasing the release of several neurotransmitters neurotransmitters

When the hippocampus senses cortisol, it When the hippocampus senses cortisol, it acts to inhibit CRH release by the acts to inhibit CRH release by the hypothalamus hypothalamus

With less CRH, less ACTH and cortisol will With less CRH, less ACTH and cortisol will be released be released

Stress and the Immune SystemStress and the Immune System

Two types of lymphocytes in the Two types of lymphocytes in the immune system:immune system:• B lymphocytes produced in bone marrow B lymphocytes produced in bone marrow

produce antibodies produce antibodies • T lymphocytes produced in the thymus T lymphocytes produced in the thymus

gland directly kill cancer cells and foreign gland directly kill cancer cells and foreign substances substances

• T lymphocytes boost the activity of B T lymphocytes boost the activity of B lymphocytes lymphocytes

Stress hormones suppress both types Stress hormones suppress both types of lymphocytes of lymphocytes

Stress and HealthStress and Health Heart disease is correlated with high Heart disease is correlated with high

levels of hostility levels of hostility Stress may influence the ability of Stress may influence the ability of

blood vessels to expand blood vessels to expand Attitudes about stress and a sense of Attitudes about stress and a sense of

control may influence health control may influence health

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Effects of CortisolEffects of Cortisol

Cortisol increases the amount of Cortisol increases the amount of calcium entering cells calcium entering cells

Extra calcium entering the cell Extra calcium entering the cell increases the amount of increases the amount of neurotransmitter released neurotransmitter released

Too much calcium can be toxic to Too much calcium can be toxic to neurons neurons

Neurons in the hippocampus are Neurons in the hippocampus are particularly likely to die particularly likely to die

Good Stress ManagementGood Stress Management

Maintain good health habits:Maintain good health habits:• SleepSleep• DietDiet• Aerobic exerciseAerobic exercise

Social networkingSocial networking