EMOTIONS
Emotions Emotions are our affective
responses to changing relationships between ourselves and our environment.
Emotion involves: The physiological component:
bodily arousal The cognitive component:
a subjective conscious experience/feeling
The behavioral component: characteristic overt expressions
Physiological Changes Bodily changes occur
Increased heartbeat Rise in blood pressure Increase in adrenaline Elevated blood sugar level Slowing of digestion
Cognitive Interpretations The mind impacts how we feel Bodily components of most emotions are
similar
Verbal expression In our low-context culture, we can’t rely on
perceptiveness to ensure understanding. We use specific emotion words to represent intensity.
The chicken/egg question The emotion we feel causes such
bodily symptoms as racing heart or sweaty palms.
OR The nervous system reacting to an
external stimulus produces physical symptoms, and our perception of them is what we call an emotion.
James-Lange theory claims that the emotion we feel is not what
causes such bodily symptoms as racing heart or sweaty palms.
It is the nervous system reacting to an external stimulus produces physical symptoms, and our perception of them is what we call an emotion.
Theories compared1. I feel afraid of a dog because I
tremble (James-Lange)2. I label my trembling as fear because I
appraise the situation as dangerous3. I tremble because I feel afraid of a
dog(common sense)
4. The dog makes me tremble and feel afraid
Identifying emotions Dutton and Aron experiment
Primary emotions
ANGER DISGUST
FEAR/FRIGHTSADNESS
JOY/HAPPINESS ACCEPTANCE
SURPRISE ANTICIPATION
Mixed emotions
AWE LOVE SUBMISSION DISAPPOINTMENT
REMORSE CONTEMPT
AGGRESSIVENESS
Influences on experiencing and showing emotions. CULTURE GENDER SOCIAL CONVENTIONS MORAL CONVENTIONS SOCIAL ROLES FEAR OF SELF-DISCLOSURE FEAR OF SHOWING WEAKNESS
Culture Same events generate different feelings in
different culture. People from Southern part of countries are
more emotionally expressive than northerners. Ethnicity impacts how others’ emotional states
and appropriate rules for expressing emotions. Individualistic-collective dynamics impact
behavior within in-groups and out-groups.
Social conventions / Roles U.S.: Unwritten rules of communication
discourage direct expressions of most emotions. Social rules even discourage too much
expression of positive feelings. Reluctance that threaten the “face” of others. Limited to the requirements of social roles, that
is, line of work. Capacity to recognize and act on certain
emotions decreases without practice.
Fear of Self-Disclosure Emotional self-disclosure feels risky. Others might misunderstand. Emotional honesty might make others
uncomfortable. Emotional honesty can be used against us.
IRRATIONAL THINKING AND DEBILITATIVE EMOTIONS All fallacies are based on the principle of our
expectations and the reality or the ability to fulfill these expectations.
Fallacies
1…of Perfection
Expecting to handle all situations
with complete confidence and skill
Fallacies
2…of Approval
Expecting acceptance from all
Fallacies
3…of “Should”
Wishing for things to be different
(according to our preferences)
Fallacies
4…of Causation
(or Consequences)
Being afraid of the consequences
of our actions
Fallacies
5…of Overgeneralization
Hasty Generalizations“Jumping to conclusions”
Fallacies
6…of Helplessness
Lack of confidence in one’s ability to control events
Believing in unknown/superstition/etc.
Fallacies
7…of catastrophic expectations
If something bad can happen, it probably will (similar to Murphy’s Law).
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