PYC 1501 Basic Psychology- Emotions

A-Z of Psychology

Emotions 1. Definition of the concept concept emotion emotion 

Emotions are one type of feeling

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Emotions are:

a)

feelin feelings gs clea clearly rly link linked ed to the the meani meaning ng of

b) a par parti ticu cula larr sit situa uati tion on The way people express, describe, define and recognise  their emotions depends on

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factors like:

1)

gender

2) age 3) cult cultuural ral fact factor orss 4) the the sit situa uati tion on the theyy are are in 

Emotion means to move thus and emotion can move us to do something

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Eg fear can move us to run away etc

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Definition of emotion  !

a) comb ombinat inatio ionn of of physiological arousal  "change  "change in heart rate# blood pressure etc) b) comb ombine ined with with c)

perceptual$cognitive  processes  processes and "thinking and sub%ective e&perience)

d) observable behavioural e&pressions  "  " crying or laughing)

11 

'omponents of emotion These components include : physiological( cognitive$perceptual cognitive$perceptual and behavioural behavioural components components

1.1.1

)hysiological )hysiological component 

Regulated by automatic nervous system

Restore balance & help build up and conserve

Responsible for activity of smooth muscles, glands and

 Then parasymphetic parasymphetic system counter the actions of arousal

Lead to bodily changes to 

Divided into sympathetic sympathetic & aras m hetic s stems

Emotion =  arousal leads sympathetic system to activate body for action

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*n very intense emotion the effects of sympathetic nervous system can be so strong that it can lead to heart attacks or sudden death in older persons or people with heart problems

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'ontinued effects of sympathetic system can be damaging to the body

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*f the parasympathetic system continues its effects it can lead to lower blood pressure# di++iness# fainting and even death ! this is called parasymphetic parasymphetic rebound

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'onnection between arousal and emotion provide basis for things like lie detector tests

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,evice does not actually detect lies but rather measures emotional emotional arousal by monitoring changes in heart rate# breathing rate# amount of sweat on hands etc

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1.1.2 

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*dea is lying will increase physiological arousal seen in above changes

'ognitive$perceptual component 

Emotions are very personal and rely on sub%ective e&perience "how you as an individual interpret the situation)

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Emotions about a specific emotion depends on what the person thinks about the situation

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Eg driving a car can be pleasurable for some or an&iety provoking for others

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Thus the interpretation about an event influences the emotions we will e&perience

1.1.3 

-ehavioural component 

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Emotions usually e&pressed in body language or non$verbal behaviour

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-odily gestures and facial e&pressions show variety of basic emotions

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.acial e&pressions like anger# fear# disgust# sadness / happiness is mostly the same universally

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-ut in certain cultures something like sticking out your tongue means disrespect but in 'hinese culture it is used to e&press surprise

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0o if someone is form another culture you must make sure the e&pression of emotion is not misunderstood

12 

Theories of emotion E&perience of emotion is result of interaction between physiological arousal and psychological arousal

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Psychological arousal ! process whereby people

become aware of situations and feelings through conscious feeling 

rousal that involve physiological and psychological aspects ! psycho physiological arousal

re continuum of physiological arousal ! means ones emotions and behaviour

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becomes more intense and change ualitatively as the level of physiological arousal rises The meaning one give to a situation "cognitive content) in con%unction with

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physiological arousal determine nature / intensity of emotions 0everal theories to try and e&plain the interaction between arousal#

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behaviour# cognitions and e&pressions and feelings:

1.2.1

0chachter2s two$factor theory of emotion  Depends on 2 factors: automatic arousal

Emotions occur when labeling a general physical arousal

Thus: $timulation  arousal  label%appraisal  emotion% behaviour Eample p' ()

1.2.2 

If people do not now what causes arousal loo for other causes in environment

!se environmental clues "from happy or unhappy# as the cause of their arousal

'ognitive appraisal theory  *+ reuirement for interpretation interpretation = meaning attached to the stimulus situation -ore *+ than physiological physiological arousal

 .our  .our interpretation interpretation "appraisal# of situation primary cause of emotions

Process as follows: 1) Percei Perceive ve stim stimulu ulus s situat situation ion &  & categori/e it to concepts concepts familiar to you "now a lion# 2) Prim Primar ary y appr apprai aisa sall0 based on past eperience or nowledge appraise situation as threatening or not "lions are dangerous# ) !moti !motion on is di"er di"erent entiat iated ed00 according according to appraisal appropriate appropriate emotion is chosen chosen "situation is threatening emotion will be fear etc'# #) Phys Physio iolo logi gica call arou arousa sall or body changes "shaing nees# accompany or follow the event $timulation

primary appraisal

di"erentiation of emotion

physiological arousal

Also ad 2 more steps: appraisal0 includes consideration 1# $econdary appraisal0 consideratio n of how to act and conseuences of various courses of action 2#

%oping strategies0 strategies0

Direct action = face the situation Reappraisal Reappraisal = reconsideration of situation in light of new additional info

13 'lassification of emotions !ollo"ing criteria is used to identify # describe $arious $ario us emotions:

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Primary & secondary emotions 3lutchi says 4 primary emotions0 fear, surprise, sadness, disgust, anger anticipation, 5oy & acceptance 6ombination of primary emotions can lead to others Di7erent emotions can combine to give wider & richer spectrum of eperience 6ultural di7erences must be considered  Tendency  Tendency is is to distinguish distinguish between between primary & secondary secondary emotions emotions Primary emotions = emotions shared by people throughout the world regardless of culture 6riteria for classi8cation0 classi8cation0 a# must be evident evident in all cultures cultures must contribute to survival must be associated with distinct facial epression must be evident in non9human species $econdary emotion = emotion = found in some cultures but not in all

Positive and negative emotions Emotions can be positive or negative 3ositive usually eperienced as pleasurable and rewarding 6an lead to urge to be creative, to eplore and see new eperiences  Thus positive emotions encourages encourages personal personal growth growth & social connection connection *egative emotions usually eperienced as unpleasant Intense negative emotions involve arousal of sympathetic nervous system : prepare us to run away in fear or 8ght in anger 3rolonged 3rolonged or unresolved unresolved physiological arousal can lead to physical or psychological illness

!motions vary in intensity Intensity vary form etreme low intensity to etremely high If angry you can feel annoyed or rage : the later more intense Intensity interacts with physiological arousal & uality of emotion eperienced ;n low intensity emotions is neutral not clearly peasant or unpleasant