2. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
Scientists have identified subtle differences in the brain circuits & hormones associated with different emotions
The polygraph has proven to be extremely effective in detecting lies
Some emotional responses involve no conscious thinking
Introverts are superior to extraverts in regards to reading others’ emotions

3. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
Facial expressions associated with emotions such as happiness & fear are the same the world over
Imitating others’ facial expressions helps us feel what they are feeling
Occasionally blowing off steam seems to reduce anger & aggression in the long run
State lottery winners report little change in their general life happiness
Researchers have found that people with a higher level of education tend to be happier

4. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
Scientists have identified subtle differences in the brain circuits & hormones associated with different emotions
True
The polygraph has proven to be extremely effective in detecting lies
False
Some emotional responses involve no conscious thinking
Introverts are superior to extraverts in regards to reading others’ emotions

5. Introduction: Fact or Falsehood?
Facial expressions associated with emotions such as happiness & fear are the same the world over
True
Imitating others’ facial expressions helps us feel what they are feeling
Occasionally blowing off steam seems to reduce anger & aggression in the long run
False
State lottery winners report little change in their general life happiness
Researchers have found that people with a higher level of education tend to be happier

6. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
Emotions exist to enhance our survival; to focus our attention and energize our actions.
Emotions: a response of the whole organism, involving
1) physiological arousal (innate and learned)
2) expressive behaviors
3) conscious experience (cognitive appraisal)
Researchers have found that there are basic emotions, as well as more complex emotions, which are a blend of several emotions at the same time. People often experience complex emotions when interpreting situations and events.
Emotions are different from moods. Emotions tend to last a brief amount of time, whereas moods generally last longer. Emotions usually alter a person’s thought process.
People differ in their level of intensity and expression of emotions. Emotion results from the subjective interpretation of stimuli, which can cause different responses of physical arousal and expression.

7. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
The term emotion is usually distinguishable from feelings, mood and affect . . .
Feeling
The subjective experience associated with an emotion
Mood
An emotional state that is general and extended in time
Affect
Encompasses feelings and mood and categories of emotion (i.e. positive or negative affect)

8. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
What is the purpose of emotion?
Emotion functions to:
Increase, decrease or regulate arousal
Direct perception and attention
Influence learning and memory
Organize and motivate behavior
Communicate with others

9. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
Biological Aspects of Emotion
The central nervous system and autonomic nervous system play critical roles in the generation and interpretation of emotions. People experience certain types of emotions through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, a division of the autonomic nervous system, which arouses the body. Physical reactions are described as the fight-or-flight response, as the body prepares and responds to what are perceived as threatening stimuli. The “fight” component produces anger, and the “flight” component produces fear. Love and excitement also activate the sympathetic nervous system, producing responses similar to fear and anger. However, some emotions produce lower levels of arousal not generated through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
Different physiological responses have been linked to different patters detected throughout the body.
Emotions cause different areas of the brain to become active. Activity in the limbic system, primarily the amygdala, is critical in learning emotions, recognizing emotional expression, and interpreting emotional stimuli. The pyramidal motor system, which includes the motor cortex, is responsible for voluntarily forming facial expression s that represent certain emotions. The extrapyramidal motor system governs natural, involuntary, facial expressions. The cerebral cortex also plays a role in the expression of emotions. Specifically, the right hemisphere is associated with the experience and expression of emotion. People who have suffered damage to the brain’s right hemisphere show understanding of a comical event but lack the ability to express humor.

10. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.

11. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
Controversial Issues
TWO BIG QUESTIONS
Does physiological arousal precede emotional experience or does physiological arousal follow emotional experience?
Does cognition precede emotion?
In other words, does your heart pound because you are afraid…or are you afraid because you feel your heart pounding??

12. 41.1 – Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion.
The “Common Sense” View
Logically, it seems that conscious awareness precedes physiological activity…
For example…
Betty’s boyfriend breaks up with her. She becomes sad & starts to cry.
Bobby stumbles upon a rattlesnake in the woods. His conscious experience of fear leads to physical arousal (the fight-or-flight response)…
But is it that simple??

13. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.
Theories of Emotion
1) James-Lange Theory: emotion is the result of the interpretation of bodily fluctuations.
Criticism: if emotions are the result of changes in the body, then somebody with a spinal cord injury would not experience emotion (not true).

14. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.
Theories of Emotion
2) Cannon-Bard Theory: emotions are the result of the thalamus receiving sensory information about emotional stimuli and relaying the information simultaneously to the autonomic nervous system and the cerebral cortex.

15. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.
3) Two-Factor Theory: emotion is the result of the interaction of two
separate factors:
1) physiological arousal
2) cognitive label that explains why there is physiological arousal.
(Also called the cognitive-arousal theory of emotion or
Schachter-Singer theory.)

16. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.

17. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.
“I am afraid because I am shaking…”
James-Lange Theory
“The spider makes me shake & feel afraid…”
Cannon-Bard Theory
“I label my shaking as fear because I appraised the situation as dangerous…”
Two-Factor Theory

18. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.
4) Cognitive-Mediational Theory: emotions are the result of the cognitive appraisal of a situation and how a person decides it will affect his or her well being.
5) LeDoux’s High and Low Road: our emotional responses can follow two different brain pathways:
1) “High Road” – a stimulus following this path would travel (by way of the thalamus) to the brain’s cortex. There is would be analyzed and labeled before the command is sent out, via the amygdala (an emotion-control center), to respond.
2) “Low Road” – a neural shortcut that bypasses the cortex. A fear provoking stimulus would travel from the eye or ear via the thalamus directly to the amygdala. This shortcut enables our greased-lightening emotional response before our intellect intervenes. Like reflexes, that also operate apart from the brain’s thinking cortex, the amygdala reactions are so fast that we may be unaware of what’s transpired.

19. 41.2 – Explain whether we can experience emotions without consciously interpreting and labeling them.

20. 41.3 – Describe the link between emotional arousal and the autonomic nervous system, and discuss the relationship between arousal and performance.
Embodied Emotion
Emotions involve bodily responses, including butterflies in our stomach or neurons activated in the brain.
Autonomic nervous system controls physiological arousal.
a) Sympathetic Nervous System = arousing
b) Parasympathetic Nervous System = calming
Examples:
1) Physical reactions are described as the fight-or-flight response (Walter Cannon), as the body prepares and responds to what are perceived as threatening stimuli. The “fight” component produces anger, and the “flight” component produces fear. Love and excitement also activate the sympathetic nervous system, producing responses similar to fear and anger. However, some emotions produce lower levels of arousal not generated through the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
2) Yerkes-Dodson law: difficult or challenging tasks cause arousal to be lower, and easy tasks cause arousal to be higher. Fluctuation in arousal could impair a person’s ability to function. People perform best when arousal is maintained, or moderate.

21. 41.3 – Describe the link between emotional arousal and the autonomic nervous system, and discuss the relationship between arousal and performance.

22. 41.4 – Discuss whether different emotions activate different physiological and brain-pattern responses.
The Physiology of Emotion
Physiological Similarities
Heart rate, breathing, and perspiration related to the emotions of fear, anger, and love are very similar. But facial expressions and brain activity can vary with each emotion. Excitement and fear involve a similar physiological arousal.

23. 41.5 – Discuss the effectiveness of polygraphs in using body states to detect lies.
The Polygraph
Polygraphs don’t literally detect lies. They measure physiological changes, which can be much the same from one emotion to another. Eckman’s research on microexpressions and brain scans seem to yield better results in detecting lies.