Emotion Lesson Objectives Describe how arousal and expressive behaviors interact in emotion Explain whether we can experience emotion without consciously interpreting and labeling them.

Emotions Let’s create a list of emotions: Think about sometime when you’ve had an intense emotional experience (for use later).

Emotions Emotion: A pattern of feelings that includes: Physiological arousal (heart pounding, perspiration, breathing changes) Expressive behaviors (smiles, crying, laughing, facial expressions) Cognitive awareness (thoughts, expectations, interpretations)

Emotions Chicken & egg debate: which comes first? Does bodily arousal come before, after, or during time of feelings? Do feelings occur, causing the body to respond? How does thinking and feeling interact?

Historical Emotion Theories Common Sense theory: First comes conscious awareness of a situation, then the feeling. Cry because of sadness Lash out because of anger We tremble because we are afraid

Historical Emotion Theories James-Lange theory: First comes the body’s response to a stimulus, followed by the feeling of fear. Notice heart racing, then shaking with fright, then felt the whoosh of emotion.

Historical Emotion Theories Cannon-Bard theory: Arousal and emotion occur simultaneously Emotion-filled stimulus travels to sympathetic nervous system causing my body’s arousal, at the same time it travels to my brain causing awareness of emotion.

Historical Emotion Theories Criticisms Cannon-Bard Lower spine injuries Little change in emotion’s intensity High spinal cord injury Some change in emotion’s intensity Bodily responses seem to feed our experienced emotions.

Contemporary Emotion Theory Most researchers now agree that our emotions also involve cognition. Our emotions are based on how we interpret our situation. Think of the emotion attached to the following statements: “I’m pregnant” “I’m going to leave now”

Contemporary Emotion Theory Schachter-Singer Emotional experience requires a conscious interpretation of the arousal Two-factor theory: physical reaction and thoughts together create emotion

Contemporary Emotion Theory Schachter-Singer Emotional experience requires a conscious interpretation of the arousal Two-factor theory: physical reaction and thoughts together create emotion Spillover effect Arousal spills over from one event to the next Conclusion: Arousal fuels emotion; cognition channels it.

Contemporary Emotion Theory Some believe cognition may not precede emotion Perhaps you remember liking something or someone immediately without knowing why.

Contemporary Emotion Theory Some believe cognition may not precede emotion Emotional responses can follow different pathways: Bottom-up and Top-down Related to that is the “High Road” and “Low Road” pathways of emotion

The Brain’s Pathway for Emotion

Contemporary Emotion Theory Zajonc & LeDoux promote the idea that much of our emotional life operates on the “low road” without any thinking. Summary:

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Detecting Emotion in Others We convey emotion through facial expressions and body movement. Facial expressions appear to be universal across cultures.

Detecting Emotion in Others Most people are pretty good at interpreting facial expressions. Researchers have found evidence for seven basic universal emotions Anger Fear Disgust Contempt Happiness Surprise Sadness

Culture and Emotional Expression Happiness Surprise Fear Sadness Anger Disgust

Detecting Emotion in Others Which is the fake smile? Duchenne smile Real smile

Detecting Emotion in Others Facial Feedback Hypothesis Based on the Darwinian idea that facial expression gives feedback to the brain about the emotions expressed. Facial Feedback activity

Gender, Emotion, and Nonverbal Behavior

Gender, Emotion, and Nonverbal Behavior Men and women interpret and express emotions differently. Women generally are better at reading non-verbal cues than men. Women have greater emotional responsiveness than men. EXCEPTION: Anger

Nonverbal communication How important is nonverbal communication? Have you ever misinterpreted a text from a lack of nonverbal communication?

Culture & Emotional Expression The meaning of gestures vary with culture

Come back to the emotional experience I asked you to remember – write a brief account about it. Try to identify, did the emotions come first, or the thinking. Can you separate them, or did they happen together?