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).