 An adaptive response  Not just to give us interesting experiences but also to enhance survival  Emotions can be damaging when prolonged and experienced as stress

Mix of: 1. physiological arousal 2. expressive behaviors 3. consciously experienced thoughts and feelings

 1. James-Lange Theory (William James & Carl Lange)  2. Cannon-Bard Theory (Walter Cannon & Philip Bard  3. Two-Factor Theory (Schachter-Singer Theory)

 First comes a distinct physiological response, then come our experienced emotion.  Problem: Does a racing heart signal fear, anger or love?

 Our physiological arousal and our emotional experience occur simultaneously.

 Also known as: Schacter-Singer Theory  Our physiology and our cognitions create emotions together.

 There is not a distinct biological signature for each and every different emotion.  Emotions differ much more in the brain circuits they use  EEGs and fMRIs show: Positive emotions activate left frontal lobe Negative emotions activate right frontal lobe

 Schachter & Singer  Adrenaline Injection Experiment  Arousal (physiological) + Label (cognition) = EMOTION

 Zajonc & LeDoux: Some emotional responses (likes, dislikes, fears) involve no conscious thinking

 Our brains can detect subtle expressions  But we find it difficult to detect deceptive expressions  Some people are more sensitive than others to physical cues

Who has the natural smile?

 Women generally surpass men at reading people’s emotional cues  Women tend to be sensitive in spotting lies  Women have greater “emotional literacy” and “emotional responsiveness”