Myers’ PSYCHOLOGY (7th Ed) Chapter 13 Emotion James A. McCubbin, PhD Clemson University Worth Publishers

Fact vs. Falsehood z1. Some emotional responses involve no conscious thinking. z2. Scientists have identified subtle differences in the brain circuit and hormones associated with different emotions. z3. The polygraph has proven to be extremely effective in detecting lies. z4. Introverts are superior to extraverts at reading others’ emotions. z5. Facial expressions associated with emotions such as happiness and fear are the same the world over. z6. Imitating others’ facial expression helps us feel what they are feeling. z7. We seem to be biologically prepared to learn some fears more quickly than others. z8. Occasionally blowing off steam seems to reduce anger and aggression in the long run. z9. State lottery winners report little change in their general life happiness. z10. Researchers have found that people with a higher level of education tend to be happier.

Emotion  Emotion  a response of the whole organism  physiological arousal  expressive behaviors  conscious experience

Theories of Emotion  Does your heart pound because you are afraid... or are you afraid because you feel your heart pounding?

James-Lange Theory of Emotion  Experience of emotion is awareness of physiological responses to emotion- arousing stimuli (feelings follow body’s response) Fear (emotion) Pounding heart (arousal) Sight of oncoming car (perception of stimulus)

Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion  Emotion-arousing stimuli simultaneously trigger:  physiological responses  subjective experience of emotion Sight of oncoming car (perception of stimulus) Pounding heart (arousal) Fear (emotion)

Schachter’s Two-Factor Theory of Emotion  To experience emotion one must:  be physically aroused  cognitively label the arousal Cognitive label “I’m afraid” Fear (emotion) Sight of oncoming car (perception of stimulus) Pounding heart (arousal)

Cognition and Emotion  The brain’s shortcut for emotions

In what order???? zSometimes we feel before we think zSometimes we must appraise an event and response before the feeling zInterpretations can lead to: yPersonalization (all is directed at you) yGeneralization (blow out of proportion)

Two Routes to Emotion

Two Dimensions of Emotion Positive valence Negative valence High arousal Low arousal pleasant relaxation joy sadness fear anger

Emotion and Physiology Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal Sympathetic division (arousing) Pupils dilate Decreases Perspires Increases Accelerates Inhibits Secrete stress hormones Parasympathetic division (calming) Pupils contract Increases Dries Decreases Slows Activates Decreases secretion of stress hormones EYES SALIVATION SKIN RESPIRATION HEART DIGESTION ADRENAL GLANDS

Arousal and Performance  Performance peaks at lower levels of arousal for difficult tasks, and at higher levels for easy or well- learned tasks

Physiology of Specific Emotions zFear, anger and sexual arousal are similar to observer zThey feel very different zFear and rage differ in finger temperature and hormone secretion zFear and joy differ in facial muscles zDifferent parts of the amygdala control each zRight prefrontal cortex = negative (disgust and depression) zLeft frontal cortex = happy (more dopamine)

Emotion- Lie Detectors  Polygraph  machine commonly used in attempts to detect lies  measures several of the physiological responses accompanying emotion  perspiration  cardiovascular  breathing changes

Emotion--A Polygraph Examination

Emotion--Lie Detectors  Control Question  Up to age 18, did you ever physically harm anyone?  Relevant Question  Did [the deceased] threaten to harm you in any way?  Relevant > Control --> Lie

Emotion-- Lie Detectors Control question Relevant question Control question Relevant question (a)(b) Respiration Perspiration Heart rate

Emotion-- Lie Detectors  50 Innocents  50 Thieves  1/3 of innocent declared guilty  1/4 of guilty declared innocent (from Kleinmuntz & Szucko, 1984) Percentage Innocent people Guilty people Judged innocent by polygraph Judged guilty by polygraph

Emotion-- Lie Detectors  Is 70% accuracy good?  Assume 5% of 1000 employees actually guilty  test all employees  285 will be wrongly accused  What about 95% accuracy?  Assume 1 in 1000 employees actually guilty  test all employees (including 999 innocents)  50 wrongly declared guilty  1 of 51 testing positive are guilty (~2%)