Download Theories and Physiology of Emotion

Theories and Physiology of
Emotion
AP Psychology
Module 41
Theories of Emotion
Use your textbook to research the 5
theories of emotion and examples of
each.
Note the time difference in the research –
our understanding of emotion has
changed as science has given us greater
understanding of our brains and bodies.
Theories of Emotion
James-Lange Theory (late 1890s)
Cannon-Bard Theory (Early 1900s)
Explanation
Example
Explanation
Example
The James-Lange
theory would
suggest that upon
seeing the loved
one, the bodily
response of racing
heart,
perspiration, and
increased body
temperature
would cause the
emotion of love.
The stimulus of
seeing your loved
one produces a
feeling of love.
The Cannon- Bard
theory would
dispute that. It
would suggest
that the increased
physiological
responses occur
separately but
simultaneously, so
the heart
pounding occurs
as the love feeling
is experienced.
The stimulus of
seeing your loved
one produces a
feeling of love.
Theories of Emotion
Schachter and Singer’s Two-Factor
Theory (1962)
Zajonc (1980s) and
LeDoux (early 2000s)
Explanation
Example
Explanation
Example
Cognitive
appraisal—how
we interpret the
physiological
response—was
added.
We may interpret
our arousal as fear
or excitement,
depending on the
context.
They suggest a “lowroad” pathway that
bypasses the cortex.
They suggest that in
some instances,
especially with
simple likes, dislikes,
and fears, our
emotional response
occurs before any
intellectual
cognition takes
place.
We automatically
feel startled by a
sound in the forest
before labeling it
as a threat.
Order of
occurrence:
stimulus,
physiological
arousal, cognitive
label, emotion
Theories of Emotion
Lazarus (1990s)
Explanation
Example
Cognitive
The sounds is “just
appraisal –
the wind.”
sometimes without
our awareness –
defines emotion.
Briefly summarize Schachter and Singer’s experiment with
epinephrine in the waiting room. What is the key
component that causes participants to create the label for
the emotion they are experiencing?
 College men were injected with epinephrine, which
triggers feelings of arousal. They go into a waiting room
where an accomplice is acting either euphoric or
irritated; as they observe this person, they begin to feel
their heart race, body flush, and breathing increase.
Those who had been told of the epinephrine effects
attributed the physiological changes to the drug. Those
who had NOT been told of epinephrine effects attributed
the physiological changes to the euphoric or irritated
mood/vibe in the room. Arousal fuels emotion, cognition
channels it.
Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous
System
Sympathetic Nervous System (MOBILIZES)
Parasympathetic Nervous System (CALMS)
pupils dilate
salivation decreases
skin perspires
respiration increases
heart accelerates
digestion inhibits
adrenal glands secrete stress
hormones
immune system functioning is
reduced
pupils contract
salivation increases
skin dries
respiration decreases
heart slows
digestion activates
adrenal glands decrease
secretion of
stress hormones
immune system functioning is
enhanced
Yerkes-Dodson Model
(Stress and Performance Relationship)
 Performance peaks at
lower levels of arousal for
difficult tasks and higher
levels for easy or welllearned tasks.
Physiology of Emotions
Describe the relationship between different emotions and the following brain stimulations…
Insula
Amygdala
Prefrontal Cortex Frontal Lobe
The insula is
activated
when we
experience
various social
emotions
such as lust,
pride, and
disgust.
Compared
with those
watching
angry faces,
those
watching
fearful faces
show more
activity in
their
amygdala.
When
experiencing
negative
emotions
such as
disgust, the
right
prefrontal
cortex is
more active
than the left.
Depressionprone people
and those
with
generally
negative
personalities
show more
right frontal
lobe activity
Physiology of Emotion
Facial Feature Changes
Physiological Responses
Fear and joy affect the heart
similarly but stimulate
different facial muscles; fear
causes brow muscles to
tense, while joy causes eye
and cheek muscles to pull
into a smile.
Physiological arousal is much
the same from one emotion
to another.
Polygraph Tests
What do they measure?
They measure
emotion-linked
changes in breathing,
cardiovascular
activity, and
perspiration.
What are the arguments
against the effectiveness
of them?
Physiological arousal
is much the same from
one emotion to
another: Anxiety,
irritation, and guilt all
produce similar
physiological
reactivity. Many
innocent people
respond with
heightened tension
due to the situation.
Why are they so popular on TV if
evidence shows them to be so wrong?
PsychSim 5
Complete the two PsychSims related to
emotion…
Expressing Emotion
Catching Liars