Ch. 13 - Emotion

Theories of Emotion

• James - Lange Theory

• Cannon - Bard Theory

• Two Factor Theory

James Lange Theory

• Body response precedes emotion

Cannon - Bard Theory

• Body response and emotion occur simultaneously

Two Factor Theory

• Emotion = body response + cognitive interpretation

Theories of Emotion (Summary)

Cognition and emotion

• Robert Zajonc (Zi-yence)– We feel before we

think– Emotions can

occur without conscious thinking

Ingredients of Emotion

Measuring Emotions

The polygraph

• Measures changes in:– Breathing– Heart rate (Cardiovascular activity)– Perspiration

• Nonverbal clues– Facial muscles - the most unambiguous clue– Other clues = hand gestures & body language

Observational learning of emotions• Monkeys raised in the wild fear snakes

• Monkeys raised in the laboratory do not fear snakes– After observing parents and peers fear snakes,

younger monkeys developed a fear of snakes

Anger

• Perception of anger most common when a person’s actions seemed:– Willful– Avoidable– Unjustified

How can you handle anger?

• 1. Wait (simmer down)

• 2. Use a non-accusing statement of feeling (“I” statement)

• 3. Avoid “You” statements

Happiness

• Our general happiness level is largely unchanged by both very positive or very negative events.

Does money create happiness?

• College students’ attitude toward money

Does money buy happiness?

What influences our happiness?

Adaptation - level phenomenon

• Our tendency to judge items (income, grades, sounds, lights) relative to a “neutral” (or accustomed) level based on our prior experience.– E.g. income– temperature– Grades

Relative deprivation

• We often feel happy or deprived (rich or poor) relative to the people we compare ourselves to.– E.g. “Poor” in the U.S. is not poor in India– E.g. 90% on an exam feels good until you learn

everyone else in the class had a score over 95%

What predicts happiness?

• High self-esteem

• Optimism

• Having a satisfying marriage or close friends

• Being happy in work and leisure

• Religious faith

• Enough sleep and exercise.