Emotional Expressivity Assessing outward display of emotions by themselves and by other people. RELATED TOPICS: Personality, Big Five personality traits. NOTES There are two handouts that accompany this activity (“Emotional Expressivity Scale,” file name = HO1_ExEmotion.doc and “Scoring the Emotional Expressivity Scale,” file name = HO2_ExEmotion.doc). Before you begin this demonstration, duplicate and distribute both handouts to each student. On the next slide, students will be directed to use the handouts.

Elements Of Emotion Cognitive (subjective) Physiological Behavioral Bullet # 1 Psychologists have broken emotions down into a number of components. First, emotion is a subjective, cognitive experience. People’s thinking or cognitive appraisal of the events in their lives can produce emotions. Bullet # 2 Emotions can also affect the autonomic nervous system (which regulates glands and muscles) and cause physiological changes. For example, a frightening experience may make your blood pressure rise, cause your pupils to dilate, and switch on your “fight or flight” mechanism, releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. Bullet # 3 Emotions can also cause changes in behavior. People often reveal their emotions through overt expressions like clenched fists, smiles, frowns, etc. Body language can sometimes reveal emotions.

Facial Expressions Facial expressions can reveal a variety of basic emotions Six fundamental emotions: happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, disgust, fear Cross-cultural comparisons Bullet # 1 Psychologists Paul Ekman (pictured in the drawing in this slide) and Wallace Friesen did extensive research into the ways in which facial expressions can reveal basic emotions. Bullet # 2 Ekman and Friesen postulated that people can generally identify six fundamental emotions in facial expressions: happiness, anger, sadness, surprise, disgust, and fear. They also estimated that human facial muscles can create more than 7000 different expressions. Bullet # 3 Ekman also conducted cross-cultural studies and found that people in many different cultures displayed these same basic six facial expressions. The countries he visited included Spain, Argentina, Japan, and New Guinea; in New Guinea, he encountered the Fore people, who had never had any contact with the outside world. He concluded that there may be a biological link between emotion and facial expression. Ekman also identified other facial expressions such as contempt, shame, guilt, and interest (1992). Note to teacher: As your students look at the next series of slides, see how many of the six facial expressions they can identify.

1 Happiness

2 Sadness

3 Anger, possibly disgust

4 Surprise, possibly happiness

5 Happiness

6 Happiness

7 Sadness

8 Disgust

9 Anger, possibly disgust

10 Surprise, possibly fear

11 Disgust

12 Happiness

13 Sadness

14 Surprise

15 Happiness

16 Anger

17 Sadness

18 Surprise

19 Happiness

20 Happiness

Expressed Emotion People’s expressive behavior reveals their emotions. How do we communicate? Body Language Tone of Voice Actual Words 7% 38% 55% NOTES Point out that a person’s body language, tone of voice, and facial expressions are read as nonverbal cues to emotions. Once students have had a minute to think about the idea presented on this screen, ask them to follow the directions and complete the handout (file name = HO1_ExEmotion.doc). Tell students they should NOT look at the “scoring” handout until they have completed the first questionnaire. When the questionnaires are complete, tell students to score their answers using the scoring method provided on the second handout (file name = HO2_ExEmotion.doc). On the next two slides you will have the opportunity to poll female, then male, students to find out their total scores.

Power Pose More Testosterone Less Cortisol Body Language can alter other’s perceptions of you and causes changes in body chemistry. Amy Cuddy –Your body language shapes you

Consider This… What are cultural differences in emotional expressiveness? What might be the advantages and disadvantages of being emotionally expressive? Expressions not only communicate emotion, they also amplify & regulate it. Facial Feedback Hypothesis Don’t do This in Brazil! NOTES Point out that the meanings of gestures varies with the culture. For example, on a trip to Brazil, then-President Nixon of the United States showed “thumbs up” as a gesture meaning “A-OK;” in Brazil, the same gesture means “let’s have sex.” Also point out that some emotional facial expressions are universal—a smile, expressions for anger, and, to a lesser extent, fear and surprise (Elfenbein & Ambady, 1999). There is no culture for which a frown shows happiness. Finally, point out that findings indicate that expressions not only communicate emotion, they also amplify and regulate it. In studies, students who were told to shape their face into a frown (contracting muscles, pulling brows together) reported feeling a little angry. Those who shaped their faces into a smile found cartoons funnier and recalled happier memories than did the frowners (Laird, 1974, 1984, 1989). ***These questions should be used to promote class discussion. They are not constructed for use with Classroom Response System (iClicker) technology. Sources: Elfenbein, H.A., & Ambady, N. (1999). Does it take one to know one? A meta-analysis of the universality and cultural specificity of emotion recognition. Unpublished manuscript, Harvard University. Laird, J. D. (1974). Self-attribution of emotion: the effects of expressive behavior on the quality of emotional experience. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 29, 475-486. Laird, J.D. (1984). The real role of facial response in the experience of emotion: A reply to Tourangeau and Ellsworth, and others. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 47, 909-917. Laird, J.D., Cuniff, M., Sheehan, K., Shulman, D., & Strum, G. (1989). Emotion specific effects of facial expressions on memory for life events. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 4, 87-98.

Theories of Emotion James-Lange Suggest we feel emotion because of biological changes caused by stress.

Cannon-Bard Theory Cannon thought the body’s responses were not distinct enough to evoke different emotions (Anger, Passion or Fear?) Physiological arousal & emotional experiences occur simultaneously. Cortex-subjective awareness of emotion Sympathetic Nervous System-physiological arousal.

Schachter-2-Factor Suggest that our physiology and our cognitions-perceptions, memories, and interpretations-together create emotion. Arousal + Cognitive Label = Emotion Ummm.. The wolf is NOT in a cage.

So, do we get this? Imagine that your brain can’t sense your heart pounding. According to each theory, how would this affect your experienced emotion? James-Lange Diminished emotions Cannon-Bard Experience emotions normally 2-Factor Conscious interpretation of the arousal is required

In Summary JAMES-LANGE THEORY physiology is necessary for emotion supporting evidence: emotions are less intense after (high) spinal cord injuries CANNON-BARD THEORY physiology is NOT a necessary cause for emotion (cognition doesn't require physiological reaction) SCHACHTER'S TWO-FACTOR THEORY OF EMOTION emotions have 2 ingredients: physiological arousal (general) and cognitive label (distinctive) arousal from epinephrine can be interpreted in different ways

Singer & Schachter’s Study Read the description of the experiment. The impact of a drug (epinephrine) can be changed by social influence. Other researchers have found that after exercise, lingering arousal can lead to various emotions, depending on the labels applied. MUST COGNITION PRECEDE EMOTION? no, according to neurological evidence (though maybe there is "unconscious" quick cognitive appraisal)

Polygraph polygraph: a machine that measures several of the physiological responses accompanying emotion (such as perspiration, heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing changes) Guilty subjects are expected to show elevated polygraph activity to the relevant questions, compared to innocent subjects. (Adapted from Honts, Raskin, & Kircher, 1994, p. 254.)

Examples of typical questions asked in a polygraph test. Introductory: Do you intend to answer all questions truthfully? Neutral: Are you a student? Control: Prior to your last birthday, did you ever take something that did not belong to you? Relevant: Did you take the rare coin? Neutral: Is your first name [John]? Relevant: Did you take the rare coin from the desk?