Emotion, Stress, and Health chapter 13

Overview Nature of emotion Emotion and culture Nature of stress Stress and emotion How to cope chapter 13

Objectives- Nature of Emotion Explain emotion and give examples Compare and contrast primary and secondary emotions Who is Paul Ekman? What are his 2 terms? Describe the PHYSICOLOGICAL, Brain and body component, of emotion including amygdala and sympathetic and parasympathetic parts

Emotion- ob-#1 Emotion- a state of arousal involving facial and bodily changes, brain activation,cognitive appraisals, subjective feelings, and tendencies toward action Physiological changes – face, brain, body Cognitive process- interpretation of events Culture – influences shape experience and expression If Human emotions =tree-bio capacity =trunk, root system;, thoughts explanations =branches; culture, the gardener that shapes, forms, prunes

Emotion A state of arousal involving facial and bodily changes, brain activation, cognitive appraisals, subjective feelings, and tendencies toward action, all shaped by cultural rules chapter 13

Emotion and the body Primary emotions- are biologically based Thought to be universal Born with them: fear, anger, sadness, joy, surprise, disgust, contempt Each has physiological pattern & corresponding facial expression and the situations that invoke them Sadness follows loss; fear follows threat of bodily harm; anger follows injustice or insult

On the other hand Secondary emotions- include all the variations and blends of emotions that vary from culture to culture Develop gradually Increased cognitive maturity

The body Primary emotions Emotions considered to be universal and biologically based, usually thought to include fear, anger, sadness, joy, surprise, disgust, and contempt Secondary emotion Emotions that develop with cognitive maturity and vary across individuals and cultures chapter 13

Your turn Which of the following is a primary emotion? 1. Love 2. Suspicion 3. Joy 4. Jealousy chapter 13

Your turn Which of the following is a primary emotion? 1. Love 2. Suspicion 3. Joy 4. Jealousy chapter 13

The Face of Emotion Facial expressions across cultures: Anger, fear, sadness, happiness(joy), disgust, surprise, contempt, (possibly pride) 1872 Charles Darwin said facial expression allowed to tell friend from foe Paul Ekman- gathered evidence for 7 facial features with emotions Studied cultures Brazil, Estonia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, U.S. = most recognized facial features (Lab)

Universal expressions of emotion Facial expressions for primary emotions are universal. Even members of remote cultures can recognize facial expressions in people who are foreign to them. Facial feedback Process by which the facial muscles send messages to the brain about the basic emotion being expressed chapter 13

The Functions of facial expressions Not only reflect internal feelings BUT influence them Facial feedback- the process by which the facial muscles send messages to the brain about the basic emotion being expressed Told to look happy (family pic) positive feelings increase Told to look mean “ sports pic) pos. feelings decrease Signaling function- when you’re a baby “come get me…go away”

Functions cont Generate emotions in others= moods are contagious Mood cognition- likely to start imitating peoples moods around you Creating a rapport; could be either way Starting end of first year= infants imitate parents Alter behavior to parents in reaction to parents facial expression of emotion

The brain and emotion The amygdala Responsible for assessing threat Damage to the amygdala results in abnormality in processing fear. chapter 13

Emotion and the Brain Identify parts of the brain involved in emotions Prefrontal region :Right- withdraw or escape Flee from danger, withdraw from disgusting scene Prefrontal region: Left – approach others Happiness= approach (positive) anger= Negative

Emotions Brain cont… Amygdala- small structure in limbic system (anger and fear) Evaluates sensory information Emotional importance- fight or flight Jump when feel hand on back in dark alley Damaged= problems with recognizing fear or displaying it

The brain and emotion Mirror neurons A class of neurons, distributed throughout the brain, that fire when an animal sees or hears an action and carries out the same action on its own Far more evolved and varied in humans than in other animals Help us recognize others’ intentions chapter 13

Emotion and brain cont.. Mirror neurons- brain cells that fire when a person or animal observes others carrying out an action Involved in empathy, imitation and reading emotions M.R.I. confirms key areas of brain activated when witness actions, emotions, feelings

The Energy of Emotion- Speed up or slow down sympathetic division of autonomic nervous system sends adrenal glands to 2 HORMONS Epinephrine Norepinephrine Dilate pupils, increased heart beat, dry mouth, urinate uncontrollably Parasympathetic- slows down heart beat, saliva, genital stimulation

Hormones and emotion When experiencing an intense emotion, two hormones are released. Epinephrine Norepinephrine Results in increased alertness and arousal At high levels, can create sensation of being out of control emotionally chapter 13

The autonomic nervous system chapter 13

Summary Emotions Primary/secondary Paul Ekman Brain/ Body and emotion