Psychology 104 Emotions and Health Chapter 1 Overview of Emotions Emotions the combination of thoughts and arousal Why we Experience Emotions Cognitive Explanation emotions are from how you interpret events around you or from how you interpret the physiological arousal you are feeling 1 We are afraid because we are aroused and running away Thoughts lead to arousal and behaviors which then lead to emotions 2 We are afraid because we think we are afraid and also because we are aroused Thoughts lead to Emotions and Arousal separately 3 We are afraid because we use the events around us to suggest that the arousal we are experiencing is fear Arousal is labeled as an emotion The Schachter Singer Theory The Physiological Explanation Emotions being driven by brain activity can be seen in individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder and manic depression extreme emotional swings Emotions are caused by changes in brain activity that are not related to environmental events The Role of the Nervous System in Emotions The Amygdala a structure in the limbic system that increases arousal related to emotions particularly fear rage and aggression nerve impulses are sent to amygdala then sends out impulses that lead to arousal The Prefrontal Cortex the thin layer of neurons that covers the frontal lobes of the brain important for the interrogation of emotions and behaviors decides how you are going to act according to your feelings from the amygdala The Sympathetic Branch of the Automatic Nervous System Sympathetic Branch Increases physiological responses such as heart rate and respiration Responses are not under voluntary control increases arousal Automatic Nervous System Branch of the nervous system that is responsible for automatic activities such as increase and decreases in arousal Lie Detector a individuals become emotionally aroused when they tell a lie b emotional arousal can be detected by measuring physiological responses such as increases in heart rate and perspiration on the hands c the physiological responses are not under voluntary control the individual in unable to hide the arousal Guilty Knowledge Test A lie detection procedure in which individuals are asked multiple choice questions to which only guilty persons would know answers The Role of Sociocultural Factors in Emotions Similarity of Emotions across Cultures Emotions are pretty much the same across all cultures Are able to recognize other emotions from people in different cultures Those born deaf or blind still have the same emotions facial characteristics as the rest Emotions are in our brain wiring structure not learned Differences in the Display of Emotions across Cultures display the same emotions but are not all willing to share emotion volatile Italian Although emotions are universal there are cultural rules that govern when the emotions may be expressed May only show emotions when you are alone or without an adult Gender and Emotions Men and women differ in strength Women more emotional than men Women are more willing to express their emotions Women show warmth happiness positive Men show anger content and pride Equally emotional Resistant to showing emotions they do have when people are around getting a bad gift Individual Differences and Emotions Differences in Emotionality People who are consistently positive or negative The Role of Interpretation Emotions we experience are due in part to the way we interpret the events around us The doctor examined little Emma s growth How you interpret events can influence your emotions The Role of Physiological Arousal Emotions are a combination of thoughts and physiological arousal Clearly seen in people who take tranquilizers Drugs do not change thoughts they simply reduce arousal in the brain reduces emotionality Cultural Differences in Reponsivity and Emotion Cultural genetic factors going on Differences in the Ability to Recognize Emotions Empathy Sensitive to the feelings of other people Empathy the ability to be aware of and experience the emotion of another individual Empathy is important b c if you are aware of what other persons are feeling you will be better able to respond to them Individuals must have first experienced the emotion themselves Some people are unable to recognize fear or anger deficiency absence in their amygdala Chapter 2 Passionate Love Components and Types of Love pg 240 1 Intimacy a component of love that involves emotional closes 2 Passion romantic and sexual arousal 3 Decision Commitment involves decision an individual loves the other person and the commitment to maintain the relationship The component of love that comes to mind most often in discussions of love is passion the fervent thrilling and uncontrolled feeling of being aroused and turned on by another person Differences among individuals on what elicits passion Passion Due to Mistakes About Arousal First explanation for passion is you made a mistake Might have been aroused for other reasons and therefore linked this to the person Playing footsie secretly compared to playing footsie openly Passion Due to Classical Conditioning of Arousal Explanation is based on the classical conditioning of emotions In the past the other person was paired with sexual arousal and now the other person is a conditioned stimulus for the conditioned response Mislabeling A mistake in labeling physiological arousal An explanation for passion Generalization classical conditioning An explanation for love at first sight Classical Conditioning The pairing of a neutral stimulus with sexual arousal so that later the stimulus will elicit sexual arousal Gold sandals paired with a sexy woman s picture same thing happens with black boots Mistakes Mislabeling An individual experiences arousal The arousal is mistakenly attributed to another person Arousal is mislabeled as passion Classical Conditioning Passion is paired with a person through classical conditioning The person then elicits passion generalization Chapter 3 Stress Stress and Stressors Stressor the factor that triggered the response of stress The Steps that Lead to Stress Awareness and Appraisal of a Stressor Attempts to Cope with the Stressor If coping is effective the process is stopped Stress Response Cognitive Component I can t deal with this Physiological Component Increased heart rate muscle tension Possible Use of Defense Mechanisms Denial Suppression If the defense is effective stress is reduced but the stressor remains and may cause problems Defense
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