1. Emotion

2. Components of an emotion Begins with cognitive appraisal Subjective experience Thought/action Physiological changes Facial expression Responses to an emotion

3. Emotion vs. Mood Emotions: Have a clear cause Brief Fit distinct descriptions Moods: Are diffuse states – no causal event Last for extended periods of time Vary across a general spectrum

4. Theories of emotion Role of cognitive appraisal Schachter and Singer study (1962) Schachter and Singer study (1962) Aim? Aim? Method? Method? Findings? Findings? Critique? Critique? Zillman and Bryant study (1974) – anger was heightened when appraisal situation was associated with arousal of exercise. Zillman and Bryant study (1974) – anger was heightened when appraisal situation was associated with arousal of exercise. Today theorists argue that appraisal comes before physiological arousal Today theorists argue that appraisal comes before physiological arousal

5. Theories of Emotion James-Lange Theory – stimulus  physiological arousal  emotional experience Cannon-Bard Theory – stimulus  physiological arousal and emotional experience Facial Feedback hypothesis – stimulus  facial expression  emotional experience Appraisal Theories – appraisals of situations lead to other components of emotional response. Minimalist: Fundamental experiences yield specific emotions. Addresses both the universality of emotion and impact of culture Dimensional Example – if desirable appraisal occurs, we experience joy; if it doesn’t we experience sorrow Neumann (2000) – experiment of priming and attribution

6. Can emotion occur without conscious thought? Direct pathway to the amygdala Zajonc and Ohman studies of phobic people Suggests that appraisal as related to emotion is like other cognitive processes – both automatic and conscious Amygdala is very involved in negative emotions Initial thinking was that cerebral cortex (and appraisal) sent input to amygdala for physiological response. Believed that there might be a direct pathway to the amygdala as well (scary faces and backward masking)

7. Emotion as subjective feeling Aside from physiological arousal there is often a certain feeling associated with emotion. Feedback hypothesis? Emotion and State Dependent Learning Hypnosis study Emotions influence your interpretation of events (and of future situations) – you know this happens! Emotion and Fundamental Attribution Error

8. Think happy thoughts Broaden and Build Theory Positive emotions broaden our thinking and encourage social bonds  builds personal resources

9. Physiology and Emotion Autonomic NS responds to produce physiological arousal Sympathetic NS prepares body, parasympathetic NS calms That response is triggered by limbic system – hypothalamus and amygdala Difference between physiology of positive and negative emotions Can you experience an emotion without physiological arousal? Study of spinal cord patients The greater our awareness of body correlates to increased emotional experience

10. Do different emotions result from different physiological responses? James Lange Theory argued that each emotion held a different physiological response. Cannon Bard Theory denied that autonomic arousal is distinct to each emotional state Ekman (1990) did find subtle physiological differences – and that these differences could be universal

11. Facial Expressions Many facial expressions have universal meaning, and are not learned behaviors. Facial expressions communicate, and can even alter the behavior of others Babies and visual cliff While universal, the times and manner in which emotions are expressed are culturally influenced – Display Rules Facial Feedback Hypothesis – did it work?

12. Learning, Culture, and Emotion While the experience of emotion is universal, the ability to control emotions is in part a learned process. Learn to avoid, ignore, reappraise The reappraisal process in particular can cause one to experience different emotions (Grandma’s sweater gift) Reappraisal is also more cognitively efficient (disgust study) Culture can influence emotional experience both before and after the appraisal and emotional experience Objectification Theory as example (front end) Big kids don’t cry (back end)

13. Gender and emotion Are women more emotional than men? Stereotype threat? Tied to a social gender hierarchy? Men as less likely to display emotions perceived as weak? Emotion is a medium through which we act in gender appropriate ways. Gender differences largely the result of back end processes where we try to act in line with the cultural norms.

14. Cultural Dimensions and Emotion In collectivist cultures the sense of self is embedded in social relationships In individualist cultures the sense of self is personal Study to compare emotional response to a mix-up in social plans: collectivists tend to experience sorrow, individualists tend to experience anger Circumstances of emotions differ across cultures

15. Aggression Aggression is a common thought/action tendency for anger Aggression as a drive? Frustration Aggression Hypothesis – when an individual is blocked from a goal, aggression is induced to remove the obstacle Biological in nature? – animal studies Aggression as learned? Social Learning Theory – when reinforced aggression will be response to frustration, but it not necessarily the innate response.

16. Is aggression cathartic? If aggression is primarily a drive then it should be. If aggression is learned, then acting should only reinforce it. Evidence suggests that partial aggressive actions tend to encourage more aggression. However, this may depend on your interpretation of your actions – if you feel guilt from aggression it might decrease the behavior. Does watching violent television influence aggression in kids?

17. What is love… Physical attractiveness ProximityFamiliaritySimilarityTransference

18. Triangle of Love PassionCommitmentIntimacy

19. Evolution and Mating What do men tend to find attractive? What do women tend to find attractive?

20. Biology and Love Romance and the ventral tegmental region of the brain – near the dopamine reward pathway Feelings of intimacy and oxytocin Adrenaline and feelings of passion – study of pairing in a time of crisis.