Emotion Psychology 1107

Introduction Emotions are a mix of: Emotions are a mix of: Physiological arousal of some sort Physiological arousal of some sort Behaviour Behaviour Experience Experience

Physiology of emotion Extra sugar is made available for energy Extra sugar is made available for energy Breathe faster Breathe faster Slowed digestion Slowed digestion Pupils dilate Pupils dilate Sweat Sweat Autonomic nervous system kicks in Autonomic nervous system kicks in epinephrine epinephrine norepinephrine norepinephrine

The Yerkes Dodson Law Too much arousal is not good Too much arousal is not good Too little arousal is not good Too little arousal is not good Somewhere in the middle is what you want Somewhere in the middle is what you want True for most tasks True for most tasks Overlearned tasks, the more arousal the better Overlearned tasks, the more arousal the better

Emotions are a riddle It is hard to pick out who is angry, scared or sexually aroused by physiological reactions alone It is hard to pick out who is angry, scared or sexually aroused by physiological reactions alone They feel different though They feel different though Different brain regions light up Different brain regions light up Polygraphs work only on this stuff so it is hard to tell if people are guilty, or just generally aroused Polygraphs work only on this stuff so it is hard to tell if people are guilty, or just generally aroused

Noverbal communication and emotion Kellerman, Lewis and Laird (1989) Kellerman, Lewis and Laird (1989) Body language affects emotions Body language affects emotions Women tend to be better than men at detecting emotion Women tend to be better than men at detecting emotion Women express happiness more easily Women express happiness more easily Men express anger more easily Men express anger more easily

Body language Liars make fewer pauses, more gestures Liars make fewer pauses, more gestures There are cultural differences of course There are cultural differences of course Personal space Personal space Gestures Gestures Nixon’s famous gaffe Nixon’s famous gaffe Facial expressions though seem to be culturally independent Facial expressions though seem to be culturally independent

Facial expressions Fear, anger happiness, disgust, surprise are the same everywhere Fear, anger happiness, disgust, surprise are the same everywhere There is probably an evolutionary basis to this, indeed, chimps make expressions that are universal There is probably an evolutionary basis to this, indeed, chimps make expressions that are universal

Facial expressions and emotion Oddly enough, our emotions can also feed off the expressions we are making (Duclas et al, 1989) Oddly enough, our emotions can also feed off the expressions we are making (Duclas et al, 1989) Forced people to ‘smile’ Forced people to ‘smile’ Felt happier Felt happier Ekman’s work with actors Ekman’s work with actors

Experiencing emotion Emotions seem to have a few dimensions to them Emotions seem to have a few dimensions to them Pleasant vs. unpleasant Pleasant vs. unpleasant Arousal vs. sleepy Arousal vs. sleepy Long vs. short Long vs. short Izzard (1977) said there are 10 emotions Izzard (1977) said there are 10 emotions Joy, excitement, surprise, sadness, guilt, anger, disgust, contempt, fear, shame Joy, excitement, surprise, sadness, guilt, anger, disgust, contempt, fear, shame Said that other emotions are just combinations Said that other emotions are just combinations

Fear Pretty adaptive, fight or flight Pretty adaptive, fight or flight Learn to fear objects etc Learn to fear objects etc Observation too Observation too Nobody fears houses… Nobody fears houses… Amygdala may be key Amygdala may be key Genetic effects too Genetic effects too

Anger Both other’s willful acts, and plain ol’ annoyances can make us angry Both other’s willful acts, and plain ol’ annoyances can make us angry Seems maladaptive, but it often leads to a solution Seems maladaptive, but it often leads to a solution Should you vent? Should you vent? Catharsis Catharsis Usually does not work Usually does not work Leads to more rage Leads to more rage Calm down! Calm down! Vent not through anger, but through exercise etc Vent not through anger, but through exercise etc

Happiness Happy people have better lives than non happy people Happy people have better lives than non happy people Wonder what the direction is though… Wonder what the direction is though… Even after bad stuff, happiness levels do not seem to change Even after bad stuff, happiness levels do not seem to change It is all relative of course It is all relative of course We adapt to our lot in life We adapt to our lot in life

Theories of Emotion James-Lange theory James-Lange theory Emotions come from physiological arousal Emotions come from physiological arousal Happiness comes from smiling Happiness comes from smiling Sadness comes from crying Sadness comes from crying Perceived Event Physiological And Behavioural response Emotional Experience

Cannon-Baird Theory Emotion originates in the thalamus Emotion originates in the thalamus Physiologic al and psychologic al systems activated simultaneo usly Physiologic al and psychologic al systems activated simultaneo usly Perceived Event Physiological And Behavioural response Emotional Experience

Schacter Two Factor Physiological arousal and cognitive label happen Physiological arousal and cognitive label happen Both of which are required for an emotional experience Both of which are required for an emotional experience Physiological Arousal Cognitive Label Emotional Experience