1. DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
2012 – Emotion unit
Activator: How much, or to what extent do we control our emotion?

2. DECEPTION APPLICATION
Can you spot a lie?

3. NY TIMES – ARTICLE JIGSAW
Small group share out:
Take away
TWO quotes with explanation of choice

4. TED TALK - LIESPOTTING Pamela Meyer
Can we “personally” influence a MORE “truthful” existence/ world through our behavior ?

5. Emotion

6. 1. What does it mean to say a person is “too” emotional?
2. Why do you suppose some people appear to be comfortable most of
he time while others appear irritable / anxious?
3. When is the last time you were angry & what did you do?
4. Do you think people can control their responses to emotionally
provoking events – or are situations at times so powerful that a person loses
the ability to reason?
5. What makes some adults mean and others kind?
6. Can you teach people to be altruistic?
7. Do you think men and women have different emotional lives? Please explain.
8. How do people acquire an emotional literacy?

7. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

8. THE SEAT OF EMOTION IN THE BAIN: LIMBIC SYSTEM H.A.H.
Hypothalamus, amygdala, hippocampus

9. Limbic System
The limbic system is the middle layer of brain that wraps around the thalamus. Together, the limbic system and the thalamus give humans/mammals the capability for emotions and memory

10. Hippocampus
One of the two most important parts of the limbic system is the hippocampus.
Job is to connect your present with your past memories.

11. Hypothalamus
A third part of the limbic system is the hypothalamus. It’s function is to analyze the blood flow in your body.
Specifically regulates body temperature, fluid levels and nutrients.
When it detects an imbalance, it tells the body how to respond.
Feeling thirsty or hungry.

12. Cerebral Cortex
When you look at a human brain, the majority of what you see is the cerebral cortex.
Major Lobes of the Brain

13. Amygdala – Emotional responses system in the Brain

15. MAIN THEORIES OF EMOTION
James-Lange
Arousal-Interpretation
Lazarus’s Appraisal Theory
Papez-MacLean limbic Model

16. PHYSIOLOGY OF EMOTION Neurochemicals and Hormones Serotoin, GABA
Cortisol, adrenaline

18. Emotion What is “Emotion”? 3 Components: Cognitive interpretation
Physiological arousal
Behavioral expression
While our emotions are very different, they all involve a state of mental & physical arousal

19. Emotion Why do we have them?
Genetics & learning – serve as arousal states to cope with certain recurring types of situations
Learned emotional responses (& genetic predispositions) are components of many psychological disorders

20. Emotion Universality of Emotions
Despite different languages, cultures, & social norms…
Universal emotional expression (esp. facial expression) support biological component of emotion
Display Rules-patterns of emotional expressions that are regarded as appropriate within a particular culture

21. Emotion The Seven Basic Universal Emotions
Paul Ekman, a leading psychologist in emotion research, suggests humans everywhere can recognize 7 basic emotions:
sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt, happiness, & surprise
A sampling of six of Ekman’s “universal emotions.” Which one is missing?
Shaped by learning (see display rules), but even blind people show same expressions.

22. Emotion

23. Emotion

24. Emotion

25. Emotion

26. Emotion

27. Emotion

28. Emotion

29. Emotion
More emotions?
We can think of other emotions beyond Ekman’s 7, so…
Robert Plutchik suggests 8, rather than 7, “primary” emotions, plus 8 more “secondary” emotions
Pairs of adjacent emotions interact, e.g., love as a combo of joy & acceptance

30. Emotion Emotional Origins…
Breakthrough discovers two emotional pathways in the brain:
One path is fast, mainly at unconscious level, screening incoming stimuli even before they reach consciousness
Seem to have innate sensitivity to certain cues – remember preparedness theory?

31. Emotion Emotional Origins…
Second pathway is slower & linked to explicit memory – generates emotions more slowly, but more complex
Both systems rely on limbic system – remember the amygdala!

32. Emotion Emotion in Men & Women
Who is viewed as more emotional…& why???
Biology? – There are genetic differences, after all
Culture probably more significant – what are we taught as boys & girls? What about display rules?
Lateralization of emotion: in cerebral cortex, right hemisphere seems to “specialize” in negative emotions, while left hemisphere processes more positive/joyful emotions

33. Emotion
You’re doomed!
You are walking, alone, down a dark alley, late at night. There is no one around, and it is completely quiet. A soft breeze rustles discarded newspapers across your path, as you hear the occasional scurry of rats in nearby garbage cans. Suddenly, you hear quick footsteps behind you, quickly gaining, and then….
Your task: explain what happens after the “and then…” according to each of the following theories of Emotion, & diagram your conclusions.
Facial Feedback Theory
James-Lange Theory
Cannon-Bard Theory
Schachter-Singer (“Schachter Two-Factor”) Theory

34. The Theories: What causes our experience of emotion?
James-Lange Theory: an emotion-provoking stimulus prompts a physiological response, which the brain interprets to create the emotion
“We feel sorry because we cry, afraid because we tremble.” William James
Cannon-Bard Theory: stimulus triggers both cerebral cortex & autonomic system, leading to simultaneous emotional feeling (cognitive) & physical arousal (physiological)
Facial Feedback Hypothesis; Common Sense view

35. The Theories (cont.)
Schachter-Singer “Two-Factor” Theory: stimulus prompts physiological response, then cognitive appraisal of the context of that response leads to conscious “labeling” as a particular emotion
High Bridge Study

36. James-Lange theory Cannon-Bard theory Two-factor theory
Physiological arousal trembling increased heart rate
Stimulus snake
Emotion fear
Physiological arousal trembling increased heart rate
Emotion fear
Cannon-Bard theory
Stimulus snake
Cognitive interpretation of surroundings
Physiological arousal trembling increased heart rate
Two-factor theory
Emotion fear
Stimulus

37. Yerkes-Dodson Law: theory that says a degree of psychological arousal (stress, anxiety, etc.) can actually improve performance, but only to a point; too much or too little arousal will decrease performance.