Describe the James-Lange Theory.
You feel your heart pound, so you are afraid. We feel physiological changes before emotion.
You see a stimulus and it triggers a specific ANS change (You see a ghost)
The brain interprets the changes (fear)
We then interpret how our body responds and arrive at an interpretation.
It assumes that every ANS response is a different emotion. (Problem!)
We may or may not display the emotion that has been created/triggered by the stimulus
Describe the Shacter-Singer theory.
Emotions are inference about the causes of the ANS arousal; so we experience arousal and the cognitively label it.
You feel your heart pound and ask why. You apply a cognitive label to the arousal
You see a stimulus (A ghost)
This triggers a general ANS response/change
We engage in a cognitive appraisal of the arousal. We give it a cognitive label. (This is subjective then as it is based on a person’s interpretation of the stimulus)
Then we experience the emotion
This then leads to a specific behaviour that corresponds to the emotion.
Describe the Cannon-Bard Theory.
A stimulus simultaneously triggers activity in the ANS and emotional experience in the brain (The cognitive experience/appraisal)
You see a stimulus (A ghost)
You experience the emotion and specific ANS activation at the same time.
Thought that each emotion had a specific physiological pattern. (like James Lange)
They thought information went to the thalamus and simultaneously kicked off ANS activation and emotion.
What is the function of the amygdala?
Interpret emotional states and interpretations of others
Interpret emotions in facial displays and social interactions
When we perceive a threat - sympathetic NS response
Is the amygdala the fear center?
It is not the center. It is definitely involved but it is much more complicated than that. It can’t be limited to just one spot. Fear is fundamentally tied to meaning.
If asked to make yourself feel sad or afraid, or angry - There will be increased activity in the amygdalae and decreased activity in the cortex.
But, if they are asked to not feel sad, afraid, or angry - There is then increased activity in the cortex and decreased activity in the amygdala.
Describe the fast and slow pathways of fear.
The amygdala plays a part in generating an appraisal. Info about a stim will enter through the eye and then go to the thalamus. It is then transmitted simultaneously along two different routes. One route is the thalamus sends the info directly to the amygdala. The amygdala just asks if the stim is relevant to survival. If yes, it kicks in bodily responses. The cortex is on the slow pathway and it conducts a full analysis of the stim. If it finds that something is not dangerous, it will tell the amygdala to downregulate.
Cortex = brake
Amygdala = gas
What are facial expressions?
Observers can read our emotions; especially in our face (46 unique action units) This system assumes that there is a 1:1 correspondence between the emotion you are feeling and what is going on in your face. You are actually showing the emotion that you feel.
How is facial display (social interaction experts hold this view) different from facial expression?
Facial display does not assume that there is a 1:1 correspondence between facial expression and the emotion we see. We are in control of our facial features and can control what we want people to see.
What is the facial feedback hypothesis?
The theory that emotional expressions can cause the emotional experiences they typically signify. (Pencil study is evidence for…Walmart greeters is evidence against.)
What is the universality hypothesis?
The theory that all emotional expressions mean the same thing to all people in all places at all times.
What are display rules?
This is a norm for the appropriate expression of emotion. (it is a form of deceptive communication.)
Techniques involve intensification, deintensification, masking, and neutralising. Different cultures have different display rules. (Japan vs. America.)
What is personality?
Personality is an individual’s characteristic style of behaving, thinking, and feeling.
What is the CQT (Comparison Question Test) method of Polygraphy?
They will ask three types of questions
Relevant - Did you kill your partner?
Neutral - Do you have a dog?
Lie eliciting questions about past behaviour…they are trying to get you to lie. Have you ever taken something and not pay?
They assume guilty people will have stronger physiological responses to relevant questions and innocent people to the lie-eliciting questions.
It’s all about the physiological responses. Newer detection tests are trying to connect it to active regions of the brain.
This method assumes that people can’t control their physiological responses, but some people certainly can and could lie. As well, extremely nervous people may look more guilty than they actually are.
Police officers are strongly passionate about these tests.
The more a person believes this test can reveal them as a liar, the more likely it is.
What is intrinsic motivation?
A motivation to take actions that are themselves rewarding.
What is extrinsic motivation?
A motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding but lead to a reward.
What is approach motivation?
The motivation to experience positive motivations.
What is avoidance motivation?
Motivation to avoid experiencing negative outcomes. (This is stronger than approach.)
What is leptin?
Leptin is a chemical produced in fat cells. It is an anorexigenic signal that tells the brain to switch hunger off which makes food less appealing.
Leptin deficient = Trouble controlling appetite.
What is ghrelin?
It is a hormone that is produced in the stomach and it is an orexigenic signal that tells the brain to switch hunger on. This happens when the body has insufficient energy.
Anorexigenic signal?
They suppress hunger
Orexigenic signals?
Increase hunger.
What is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory?
A well-researched clinical questionnaire used to assess personality and psychological problems.
What are some of Coates criticisms of the MMPI?
Validity issues (are they actually measuring what they say they are?), an exclusion of personality traits (there is no way it is exhaustive), assume that traits are stable, underestimate the importance of context to behaviour, use self-report data, cultural biases within
What are projective techniques?
Totally subjective. They include a standard series of ambiguous stimuli designed to elicit unique responses that reveal inner aspects of an individual’s personality.
