James-Lange Theory
the theory that our experience of emotion occurs when we become aware of our physiological responses to an emotion-arousing stimulus.
Cannon-Bard Theory
the theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers (1) physiological responses and (2) the subjective experience of emotion.
Two-factor theory (Schacter-Singer)
the Schachter-Singer theory that to experience emotion one must (1) be physically aroused and (2) cognitively label the arousal.
Facial feedback hypothesis
the idea that our facial expressions can influence our emotional experience. This means that the physical act of smiling can make you feel happier, while frowning might make you feel sadder or angrier.
Adaptation-level phenomenon
our tendency to form judgments (of sounds, of lights, of income) relative to a neutral level defined by our prior experience.
Relative deprivation/ social comparison
the perception that we are worse off relative to those with whom we compare ourselves.
Stress
the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging.
general adaptation syndrome
Selye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three phases — alarm, resistance, exhaustion.
Type A
Friedman and Rosenman’s term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people.
Type B
Friedman and Rosenman’s term for easygoing, relaxed people.
Sympathetic nervous system
a part of the autonomic nervous system that activates the “fight-or-flight” response in response to stress or danger. It increases heart rate and blood pressure, dilates pupils and airways, and directs blood flow to muscles while slowing down non-essential functions like digestion.
Parasympathetic nervous system
a division of the autonomic nervous system that manages the “rest and digest” functions of the body, counterbalancing the “fight or flight” response of the sympathetic nervous system. It conserves energy, slows the heart rate, constricts pupils, aids in digestion, and promotes overall relaxation
Role of the amygdala in emotion
acting as a central processing hub that evaluates the emotional significance of sensory input, triggers the body’s “fight or flight” response, and links emotions to memories and learning. It is involved in processing both negative emotions like fear and stress, and positive emotions like pleasure and reward
Two pathways for emotion (Zajonc, LeDoux)
the “low road” and the “high road,” which are fast and slow routes, respectively, that process sensory information to generate an emotional response. The fast, or low road, is a direct subcortical pathway from the thalamus to the amygdala, allowing for a quick, often unconscious, emotional reaction. The slow, or high road, is a cortical pathway that goes through the thalamus, then to the cortex for detailed processing, and finally to the amygdala, which allows for conscious assessment of the situation before triggering an emotional response
How polygraphs work
by attaching sensors to measure physiological responses like heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and sweating while a person answers questions.
Are polygraphs accurate and reliable?
Polygraphs measure physiological responses like heart rate and sweating, not deception itself, making them susceptible to errors from factors like stress, medication, and countermeasures, and their results are often not admissible in court
Ekman’s theory of facial expression
there are six universal emotions—anger, happiness, surprise, disgust, sadness, and fear—with distinct, innate facial expressions that are recognized across cultures
Guilty knowledge test
a psychophysiological questioning technique, also known as the Concealed Information Test (CIT), used to detect if a person has concealed information about a crime. Instead of trying to detect lies directly, the GKT measures physiological responses, such as heart rate and skin conductivity, to a series of multiple-choice questions about crime-related details that only the perpetrator would know
Misattribution (Dutton and Aron Capilano Bridge study)
a cognitive error where an individual incorrectly identifies the source of a memory, feeling, or behavior. This can involve wrongly attributing an emotion to a different cause, such as feeling attraction to someone because of the leftover excitement from a scary experience
Types of stressors (micro, major, catastrophic)
Microstressors- Frequent, low-level, and often unnoticed daily stressors that cumulatively lead to significant psychological distress.
Major- Significant life events that cause emotional or psychological strain and require a period of adjustment.
Catastrophic- Sudden, overwhelming events that cause widespread destruction, loss, and trauma.
Social readjustment rating scale
a tool developed in 1967 by Holmes and Rahe to measure the impact of life events on a person’s stress level and health. It consists of a list of life events, both positive and negative, with each event assigned a numerical value representing its degree of social readjustment. To use the scale, you add up the values of all events you’ve experienced in a given time period (e.g., the past year) to get a total score. A higher score indicates a greater risk of health problems.
Effects of stress on illness
weakening the immune system, increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems like high blood pressure and heart disease, and disrupting the digestive and nervous systems
Uplifts
minor, positive daily events that contribute to a sense of well-being and can help counteract the effects of minor stressors or “hassles”
Benefits of relaxation, exercise, optimism
reducing stress hormones like cortisol, boosting mood-elevating neurotransmitters like endorphins, and improving overall mental and physical well-being
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Neuroscience and Behavior37
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Introduction, Methods, and History23
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Learning27
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Memory41
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Sensation and Perception24
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Attention and Consciousness20
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Motivation31
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Thinking and Language38
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Personality33
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Development35
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Intelligence23
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Social Psychology29
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Emotion24
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Psychological Disorders36
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Therapy25
