DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2012 – Emotion unit

Activator: How much, or to what extent do we control our emotion?

DECEPTION APPLICATIONCan you spot a lie?

NY TIMES – ARTICLE JIGSAWSmall group share out:

1.Take away

2.TWO quotes with explanation of choice

TED TALK - LIESPOTTING

Pamela Meyer

Can we “personally” influence a MORE “truthful” existence/ world through our behavior ?

Emotion

1. What does it mean to say a person is “too” emotional? 2. Why do you suppose some people appear to be comfortable most of he time while others appear irritable / anxious? 3. When is the last time you were angry & what did you do? 4. Do you think people can control their responses to emotionally provoking events – or are situations at times so powerful that a person loses the ability to reason? 5. What makes some adults mean and others kind? 6. Can you teach people to be altruistic? 7. Do you think men and women have different emotional lives? Please explain. 8. How do people acquire an emotional literacy?

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

THE SEAT OF EMOTION IN THE BAIN: LIMBIC SYSTEM H.A.H.

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LIMBIC SYSTEM

The limbic system is the middle layer of brain that wraps around the thalamus. Together, the limbic system and the thalamus give humans/mammals the capability for emotions and memory

HIPPOCAMPUS

One of the two most important parts of the limbic system is the hippocampus. Job is to connect your present with your past memories.

HYPOTHALAMUS

A third part of the limbic system is the hypothalamus. It’s function is to analyze the blood flow in your body. Specifically regulates body

temperature, fluid levels and nutrients.

When it detects an imbalance, it tells the body how to respond. Feeling thirsty or hungry.

CEREBRAL CORTEX

When you look at a human brain, the majority of what you see is the cerebral cortex.

Major Lobes of the Brain

Amygdala – Emotional responses system in the Brain

MAIN THEORIES OF EMOTION

James-Lange Arousal-Interpretation Lazarus’s Appraisal Theory Papez-MacLean limbic Model

PHYSIOLOGY OF EMOTION

Neurochemicals and Hormones Serotoin, GABA Cortisol, adrenaline

EmotionWhat is “Emotion”?

3 Components:o Cognitive interpretation o Physiological arousalo Behavioral expression

While our emotions are very different, they all involve a state of mental & physical arousal

EmotionWhy do we have them?

Genetics & learning – serve as arousal states to cope with certain recurring types of situations

Learned emotional responses (& genetic predispositions) are components of many psychological disorders

EmotionUniversality of Emotions

Despite different languages, cultures, & social norms…

Universal emotional expression (esp. facial expression) support biological component of emotion

Display Rules-patterns of emotional expressions that are regarded as appropriate within a particular culture

EmotionThe Seven Basic Universal Emotions

Paul Ekman, a leading psychologist in emotion research, suggests humans everywhere can recognize 7 basic emotions: sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt, happiness, & surprise

A sampling of six of Ekman’s “universal emotions.” Which one is missing?

Emotion

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EmotionMore emotions?

We can think of other emotions beyond Ekman’s 7, so…

Robert Plutchik suggests 8, rather than 7, “primary” emotions, plus 8 more “secondary” emotions

Pairs of adjacent emotions interact, e.g., love as a combo of joy & acceptance

EmotionEmotional Origins…

Breakthrough discovers two emotional pathways in the brain:• One path is fast, mainly at unconscious level, screening incoming stimuli even before they reach consciousness• Seem to have innate sensitivity to certain cues – remember preparedness theory?

EmotionEmotional Origins…

Second pathway is slower & linked to explicit memory – generates emotions more slowly, but more complex

Both systems rely on limbic system – remember the amygdala!

EmotionEmotion in Men & Women

Who is viewed as more emotional…& why???

• Biology? – There are genetic differences, after all• Culture probably more significant – what are we taught as boys & girls? What about display rules?

Emotion

You’re doomed!You are walking, alone, down a dark alley, late at night. There is no one around, and it is completely quiet. A soft breeze rustles discarded newspapers across your path, as you hear the occasional scurry of rats in nearby garbage cans. Suddenly, you hear quick footsteps behind you, quickly gaining, and then….

Your task: explain what happens after the “and then…” according to each of the following theories of Emotion, & diagram your conclusions.

Facial Feedback Theory James-Lange Theory Cannon-Bard Theory Schachter-Singer (“Schachter Two-Factor”) Theory

The Theories: What causes our experience of emotion?

James-Lange Theory: an emotion-provoking stimulus prompts a physiological response, which the brain interprets to create the emotion

• “We feel sorry because we cry, . . . afraid because we tremble.” William James

Cannon-Bard Theory: stimulus triggers both cerebral cortex & autonomic system, leading to simultaneous emotional feeling (cognitive) & physical arousal (physiological)

The Theories (cont.)

Schachter-Singer “Two-Factor” Theory: stimulus prompts physiological response, then cognitive appraisal of the context of that response leads to conscious “labeling” as a particular emotion

• High Bridge Study

Emotionfear

Cognitive interpretation of surroundings

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

James-James-Lange Lange theorytheory

Cannon-Cannon-Bard Bard

theorytheory

Two-Two-factor factor theorytheory

Stimulussnake

Stimulussnake

Stimulus

Emotionfear

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

Physiological arousaltremblingincreased heart rate

Emotionfear

Yerkes-Dodson Law: theory that says a degree of psychological arousal (stress, anxiety, etc.) can actually improve performance, but only to a point; too much or too little arousal will decrease performance.