McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Emotional Development

Definition What is Emotion? Would you describe it as feelings, sensations, passions McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Functions of Emotions To send Social Signals about one’s feelings or needs E. g. Crying baby lets you know what?? Survival, Attention and Memory Emotion helps evaluate objects, people and situations in terms of how good or bad they are for our survival. Walking through the park at night fear Emotions also helps us our memory of events and or attentiveness feeling happy when you see some you care about means you give them your full attention. Strong emotions can also cause memoires to be “hard wired” Arousal and motivation Emotion produces general arousal this keeps us awake and alert McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Seeing a shark swimming nearby causes What emotions ? Fear, terror, frozen to the spot Why do we feel fear? McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Key Theoretical Approaches Peripheral theory of emotion. i) James-Lange theory emphasises how physiological changes in the body give rise to emotional feelings E.G. heart rate increases, pupils dilate, etc If you see a shark you are frightened because you run away rather than the opposite. ii) Facial feedback theory feedback from movement of facial muscles and skin are interpreted as different emotions by the brain Cognitive appraisal theory argues how interpretations or appraisals of situations result in emotional feelings. Thinking causes emotions McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Key Theoretical Approaches (cont) Affective neuroscience considers neural bases of mood and emotions by focussing on the brain circuits that evaluate stimuli and produce or contribute to experiencing different emotions E.G. Overactive Amygdala role in social phobias McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Studying Human Emotions McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Human emotions are complex. They express positive or negative reactions to external and internal stimuli. Thus, each emotion distinctly affects human motivation, nervous function, learning, physical acts, physiological arousal and communication with others. Sadness, for instance, is an emotion that causes a person to cry and withdraw from social circles, depresses appetite, low motivation

Basic Emotions McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Can you guess them?? Work in small groups brainstorm and list them

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 What emotions are displayed?

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 What emotions are displayed?

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 What emotions are displayed?

McGenniss and Simpson 2010

How many basic emotions are there?? McGenniss and Simpson 2010 The Jury is still out Psychology theorists disagree. Ortony and Turner (1990) collated a wide range of research on identification of basic emotions.

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 TheoristBasic Emotions Plutchik Acceptance, anger, anticipation, disgust, joy, fear, sadness, surprise Arnold Anger, aversion, courage, dejection, desire, despair, fear, hate, hope, love, sadness Ekman, Friesen, and EllsworthAnger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, surprise FrijdaDesire, happiness, interest, surprise, wonder, sorrow GrayRage and terror, anxiety, joy JamesFear, grief, love, rage McDougall Anger, disgust, elation, fear, subjection, tender-emotion, wonder MowrerPain, pleasure Oatley and Johnson-LairdAnger, disgust, anxiety, happiness, sadness PankseppExpectancy, fear, rage, panic Tomkins Anger, interest, contempt, disgust, distress, fear, joy, shame, surprise Izard Anger, contempt, disgust, distress, fear, guilt, interest, joy, shame, surprise WatsonFear, love, rage Weiner and GrahamHappiness, sadness

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Primary emotion Secondary emotion Tertiary emotions Joy Cheerfulness Amusement, bliss, cheerfulness, gaiety, glee, jolliness, joviality, joy, delight, enjoyment, gladness, happiness, jubilation, elation, satisfaction, ecstasy, euphoria Zest Enthusiasm, zeal, zest, excitement, thrill, exhilaration Parrot 2001 OptimismEagerness, hope, optimism

McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Primary emotion Secondary emotion Tertiary emotions Fear Horror Alarm, shock, fear, fright, horror, terror, panic, hysteria, mortification Nervousness Anxiety, nervousness, tenseness, uneasiness, apprehension, worry, distress, dread

Studying how we use Emotion McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Humans use a wide range of different cues, both verbal and non-verbal, to share important information and particularly to warn others of danger. There have been a number of studies that have looked a range of non-verbal emotional vocalizations, such as screams and laughs, in very different cultural groups.

Studying how we use Emotion McGenniss and Simpson 2010 One study compared the responses of Westerners to those of the remote and culturally isolated semi- nomadic Himba people of Namibia. The experimenters discovered that vocalizations expressing the six basic emotions - anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise - were recognized by both groups, indicating that they, like facial expressions, are universally evolved functions.

Conclusions McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Some emotions are universal and innate. We all reconise same 6 basic emotions no matter where we live The six basic emotions are expressed with similar facial expressions and vocalisations

Conclusions McGenniss and Simpson 2010 These 6 basic emotions combine in different ways to form other emotions, including compassion, boredom, embarrassment, rage, hunger, and others However, when an additional set of positive emotions was introduced - achievement, sensual pleasure and relief - they were only reliably recognized by the Western subjects. The cultural variations of some emotions suggests that the vocalization of some positive emotions may be learned socially, rather than representing products of evolution. (Sauter,1990)

Cultural diversity and emotional expression Many emotional expressions are shared and recognised across cultures Cultures also have their own unique rules that regulate how, when and where we should express emotion. These rules are called display rules Among the Inuit (Eskimos) feelings of anger are strongly condemned but in certain Arab groups a man’s failure to respond with anger is seen as dishonourable Other examples??? Bali Bombers expressions smiling when sentenced to death McGenniss and Simpson 2010

DVD Discovering Psychology McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Emotional Development in Children “Supporting the emotional development of children means helping children feel safe and secure and to develop a strong sense of self, a positive self-esteem and the ability to express a range of emotions.” (Tufuga,2009)

Emotional Milestones McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Emotional Intelligence McGenniss and Simpson 2010 Daniel Goleman and John Gottman - EQ Martin Seligman Optimism studies and Positive psychology EQ vital for social & emotional competence EQ is the ability to manage our own emotions and recognise emotions in others Why do we need it – If you can understand the emotion, then you can respond appropriately to it in yourself and in others.

Emotional Intelligence Common remarks that show how emotions can influence our behaviours “ I was so angry I couldn’t think straight” “I get worse when people tell me to calm down” “When we argue I get mad and say the wrong thing” “Sometimes I act on my feelings, right or wrong” McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Gottman and Developing EQ in Children 1. Become aware of your child’s emotion 2. Recognize that emotion is an opportunity for intimacy and learning 3.Listen with empathy and validate the child’s feelings 4. Help the child find words to express the emotion they are experiencing 5. Set appropriate limits on the expression of the emotion and explore strategies to solve the immediate problem. (John Gottman, 1997) McGenniss and Simpson 2010

Emotional Intelligence Want to know more??? ment/a/emotionalintell.htm ment/a/emotionalintell.htm Take on on - line quiz at the following websites: q_abridged_1.html or q_abridged_1.html iz.htm iz.htm McGenniss and Simpson 2010