EMOTIONS

Theories of emotions Emotion a response (focuses our attention; energizes our actions) of the whole organism involving Physiological arousal (heart pounding) Expressive behavior (quickened pace) Conscious experience (thoughts, questions) Common sense theory conscious awareness first; then physiological effects Ex. We’re sad…we cry

Theories of emotions James-Lange theory Physiological effect THEN conscious awareness

Theories of emotions Cannon-Bard theory Physiological response and conscious awareness happen simultaneously

Theories of emotions Two-factor theory Schachter-Singer physiology and cognitions create emotion

Theories of emotions

Cognition and Emotion Cognition Can Define Emotion Spill over effect Schachter-Singer experiment Arousal fuels emotions, cognition channels it

Physiological Differences Among Specific Emotions Differences in brain activity Amygdala – emotional center Frontal lobes right=negative thoughts left=positive thoughts (high supply of dopamine receptors) Nucleus accumbens (happy place) neural cluster that receives dopamine from left frontal lobe Polygraph measures physiological changes in emotion

Gender, Emotion, and Nonverbal Behavior Women= higher nonverbal sensitivity, greater emotional literacy, more empathetic, more facial emotions Men = anger

Culture and Emotional Expression Expressions are universal for basic emotions Gestures vary with cultures Display rules: are a social group's informal norms about when, where, and how one should express emotions. (Ex: Crying at a Funeral)

The Effects of Facial Expressions Facial feedback facial expressions display AND feed our feelings

Stress and Health

Stress and Illness Stress is our reaction to certain events that either threatening or challenging. Stress appraisal is how we dictate the situation at hand Ex: Stressful event: Math test (threats=stress to distraction and challenges=Arousal and focus) Good vs Bad Stress

Stress and Illness Stressful Life Events 3 Types of Stressors: Catastrophes (Ex: Natural disasters Earthquake) Significant life changes ( Ex: Divorce) Daily hassles ( Ex: Tardy Pass)

Stress and Illness The Stress Response System Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress general adaptation syndrome (GAS) Alarm (initial arousal, emotions heightens) Resistance (high arousal, control the amount of stress) Exhaustion (if arousal persistent, more probe to illness and even death)

Stress and Susceptibility to Disease Psychophysiological illnesses = physiological effects of psychological states (ex. Headache, Hypertension) Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) the study of how psychological, neural and endocrine processes together affect the immune system and resulting health. Lymphocytes (white blood cells) B lymphocytes (fight bacteria) T lymphocytes (attack cancer cells, viruses, foreign substances) *Depletes during stress

Stress and the Heart Coronary heart disease ( the leading cause of death in many developing countries) the clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle. Type A versus Type B Type A Type B