What Are Emotions? Emotion is defined as a subjective mental state that is usually accompanied by distinctive behaviors as well as involuntary physiological changes. Three aspects of emotions: 1. Feelings 2. Actions 3. Physiological arousal Emotional states are caused by the autonomic nervous system: 1.The sympathetic nervous system (the “fight or flight” system that generally activates the body for action) or 2.the parasympathetic nervous system (which generally prepares the body to relax and recuperate).

Plutchik suggests Eight Basic Emotions

Different Views of the Chain of Events in Emotional Responses

Cognition Plays a Role in the Experience of Emotion Schachter’s cognitive attribution model, emotional labels (e.g., anger, fear, joy) are attributed to relatively nonspecific feelings of physiological arousal. Our emotional experience results from cognitive analysis of the context around us.

Cognition Plays a Role in the Experience of Emotion Our emotional experience results from cognitive analysis of the context around us. Emotional experiences of subjects unknowingly injected with epinephrine could vary depending on how the people around them were acting.

Emotions from the Evolutionary Viewpoint Darwin suggested that expressions and emotions came from a common ancestor. Besides expressions, he noted the similarity in facial musculature and nerves in human and nonhuman primates.

Dog approaching another dog with hostile intentions. By Mr. Riviere. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals By Charles Darwin (1898)

The same in a humble and affectionate frame of mind. By Mr. Riviere. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals By Charles Darwin (1898)

Cat, savage, and prepared to fight, drawn from life by Mr. Wood. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals By Charles Darwin (1898)

Cat in an affectionate frame of mind, by Mr. Wood. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals By Charles Darwin (1898)

Cat terrified at a dog. From life, by Mr. Wood. The Expression of the Emotions in Man and Animals By Charles Darwin (1898)

Emotions from the Evolutionary Viewpoint Redican described primate expressions relative to humans: Grimace, like fear or surprise in humans Tense mouth, like anger Play face, like the human laugh

Emotional Expression in Animals Crested black macaque monkey “in a placid condition” From Darwin, 1872, p. 136 The same, when pleased by being caressed

Facial Expression of Emotions in Nonhuman Primates

Universal Facial Expressions of Emotion ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Cultural Differences in Recognizing Facial Expressions of Emotion

A Model for Emotional Facial Expressions across Cultures

Box 15.1 Lie Detector?

Facial Muscles and Their Neural Control

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Emotions and Facial Asymmetry The two cerebral hemispheres process emotion differently The right hemisphere discerns other people’s emotions. The left side of the face, controlled by the right hemisphere, is more expressive than the right.

Self-Stimulation Sites in the Rodent Brain

Medial Regions of the Brain Involved in Emotions

The Circuitry of Fear (Part 1)

The Circuitry of Fear (Part 2)

The Circuitry of Fear (Part 3)

The Emotional Brain Photos of someone you are in love with compared to photos of a friend produced more activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and insula.

Brain Regions Active in Four Emotions

Your Brain on Love The neural correlates of maternal and romantic love Andreas Bartels and Semir Zeki NeuroImage 21 (2004) 1155– 1166

Cognition Plays a Role in the Experience of Emotion Our emotional experience results from cognitive analysis of the context around us. Emotional experiences of subjects unknowingly injected with epinephrine could vary depending on how the people around them were acting. Our emotional experience results from cognitive analysis of the context around us.

The role of context in emotion perception (a). Taken out of context, he looks agitated and aggressive. Yet look at him again in (b). When situated, he appears happy and excited. Language as context for the perception of emotion Lisa Feldman Barrett, Kristen A. Lindquist, and Maria Gendron Trends Cogn Sci August; 11(8): 327–332.

Context Effects on Emotion Perception Context such as visual scenes, voices, bodies, other faces, cultural orientation, and even words Influences on perception of facial expression of emotions –by descriptions of the social situation –scowling faces are more likely to be perceived as fearful when paired with the description of danger –Faces portraying disgust are perceived as proud when paired with a muscled body whose arms are raised in triumph Cultural context influence how perceivers sample information from a face fixate around the eyes, nose, and mouth vs primarily on the eyes

Context in Emotion Perception Social Context influence on emotions Expectation in the context of relationships, whether or not the expected outcome for a certain event takes place –For example forgetting a birthday Significant Social situations create emotional responses –Social demands –Personal gratification –Cultural influences Dysfunctional relationships produce a wide range of negative emotions such as anger, anxiety, and depression Functional relationships can buffer and protect people against various life stressors and create positive affective states A strong correlation between expression of emotions and relationship satisfaction