emotion a multidimensional response system. nature of emotions ßmultidimensional, adaptive response...

Emotion

A Multidimensional Response System

Nature of emotions

Multidimensional, adaptive response system PhysiologicalConscious (subjective feelings)BehavioralCognitive (appraisals)

Synchronized emotional system responds to eventAnger/sadness

Physiological Response

Brain structure activity (RAS, thalamus, amygdala)

Right prefrontal cortex: NALeft prefrontal cortext: PA

ANS, facial expressionHeart rate, blood pressure, countenanceBlood flow to hands greater w/ anger than sadness

Endocrine system/hormonal activityAdrenaline, cortisol

Conscious Response

2 componentsValenceArousal

Positivevalence

Negativevalence

Higharousal

Lowarousal

pleasantrelaxation joy

sadnessfear

anger

Cognitive Response

Evaluate potential consequences of event & your ability to cope

AppraisalDo I care about what is happening here?

Might this prevent (help) me from reaching my goals?

Interpret physiological changesHow upset/excited am I?

Behavioral Response

Adaptive behaviors Reduce negative &

increase positive valence

Express emotionFacial features/body

language/tone of voice Informs others about

current emotional state

Can we determine emotions via faces?

Grab a partner & make a face!

Make A Face

Happy

Make A Face

Angry

Make A Face

HappyAngryCan we R adaptively to faces?Females > Males

Evolution?No difference at 4 yrs old

Socialization?

Emotions

Emotions unites all these diverse responses into a coherent response systemAdaptive response to some event

Expressing Emotion

Gender and expressivenessParticipants watched emotional videos

No difference in self-reported emotionDifference in facial expressions

Expressing Emotion

Men Women

Sad Happy ScaryFilm Type

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Numberof

facial expressions

Expressing Emotion

Culturally universal expressions

Reaction Paper VIII: Emotion

What do you think causes emotions? Provide a novel example of this cause for one specific emotion (e.g., anger, happiness, fear).

PLEASE TURN THIS IN AFTER CLASS!

Causes of EmotionsMANY perspectivesCommonly debated paradigms:Biological vs Cognitive

Emphasize body vs mindChicken & egg (what comes first cog or bio?)

Paradigm

Biological Paradigm - Zajonc

Emphasize evolution/adaptive nature of emotion

Changes in physiology, facial expressions, cortical activity produce emotions

Genetically inherited neural circuits Biology primary

No cognition needed

Biological Paradigm - Zajonc

Stimulate amygdalaEmotional R

Manipulate facial musclesEmotional R

Emotions are often fast/automaticSomeone jumps out and

scares you --> fearNo time for thought

Emotions precede cognition in development Infants emotional?,

cognitive?

Biological Paradigm - Theories James-Lange Theory

Emotion = awareness of physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli‘We are sad because we cry, afraid because we tremble.’

Fear(emotion)

Poundingheart

(arousal)

Sight of oncoming

car(perception of

stimulus)

Criticisms of James/LangeBody changes unneeded for emotion

Spinal cord injuryChristopher Reeve

Same arousal w/ many emotions

Biological Paradigm - Theories

Cannon-Bard TheoryEmotion-arousing

stimuli simultaneously trigger:Physiological responses Subjective experience of

emotion

Sight of oncoming

car(perception of

stimulus)

Poundingheart

(arousal)

Fear(emotion)

Biological Paradigm - Theories

Biological Paradigm - Data

New data is supporting differential arousal for different emotionsBrainAnger & blood to hands

Supports James/Lange

Facial Feedback TheoryFacial muscles influence

emotionStrong - CAUSE

emotionsWeak - enhances

reduces emotions

Making faces impacts emotional R

Biological Paradigm - Theories

Biological Paradigm - Theories

Facial Feedback Theory How?Vascular Theory

Changes brain temperature

U sound

EE/Ah

Hot Brain

Neg Affect

Cool Brain

Pos Affect

Biological Paradigm - Theories

Cognitive Paradigm - Lazarus

Emotion = person-event relationshipCognitive interpretations

establishes nature of that relationship

Depends on whether event potentially impacts one’s goals

Appraisals keyW/o cognitions, no

emotionsFail a geometry test &

major is music?Fail a geometry test &

major is math?

Cognitive Paradigm - Theories

Schachter’s Two Factor TheoryEmotion requires:1) Physical arousal 2 ) Cognitively label arousal

Must not have prior explanation of arousal

Cognitive Paradigm - Theories

Cognitivelabel

“I’m afraid”

Fear(emotion)

Sight of oncoming

car(perception of

stimulus)

Poundingheart

(arousal)

Cognitive Paradigm - DataSchachter - injected participants with adrenaline

Informed/misinformedEmotional confederate

Cognitive Paradigm - Data

Misinformed experienced the emotion acted out by confederateHappy condition

Biological or Cognitive paradigm? Who is right?

Is cognition primary or is biology primary in emotions?

BOTH!Evolutionarily devised quick response systemSlower cognitive processing system

These probably interact in complex ways

Two-Systems viewSystem 1

Innate automatic system reacts w/o higher processing to emotional SThalamus-> Amygdala

System 2Experience based system

dependent on new learning & cognitive processingCortex

Culture/life experience plays a role in emotions

Display rules Feel like crying OK to do at

Sears?/funeral?

Two-Systems view

Experiencing Emotion

Subjective Well-BeingSelf-perceived happiness or satisfaction with lifeUsed along with measures of objective well-being

Physical and economic indicators to evaluate people’s quality of life

Love (need to belong) more important than $

Experiencing Emotion

MoneyLove

1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00Life satisfaction

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

-0.2

-0.4

Importancescores

Happiness is...

Researchers Have Found ThatHappy People Tend to

Have high self-esteem (in individualistic countries)

Be optimistic, outgoing, and agreeable

Have close friendships or a satisfyingmarriage

Have work and leisure that engagetheir skills

Have a meaningful religious faith

Sleep well and exercise

However, Happiness Seems Not MuchRelated to Other Factors, Such as

Age

Gender (women are more often depressed, but also more often joyful)

Education levels

Parenthood (having children or not)

Physical attractiveness

Summary: Emotion

Multidimensional response systemExpressionCauses

Biological & Cognitive paradigmsTwo-Sytems View

FunctionSWB