HOW ARE YOU FEELING TODAY?

EMOTIONS, STRESS & EMOTIONS, STRESS & HEALTH!HEALTH!

Ch. 12Ch. 12

EmotionsEmotions

Name as many emotions as you can:Name as many emotions as you can:

ExcitementExcitement SurpriseSurprise SadnessSadness

AngerAnger DisgustDisgust ContemptContempt

FearFear ShameShame GuiltGuilt

HappinessHappiness

Physiology of EmotionPhysiology of Emotion

Emotions cause an aroused physiological Emotions cause an aroused physiological state: automatic/sympathetic nervous state: automatic/sympathetic nervous system.system.

Glucose releasedGlucose released Respiration increasedRespiration increased Blood clotter releasedBlood clotter released Adrenaline: epinephrine, norepinephrine Adrenaline: epinephrine, norepinephrine Blood pressure up.Blood pressure up.

StressStress

Creates the aroused Creates the aroused physiological state for an physiological state for an extended period of time, reeking extended period of time, reeking havoc on the immune system and havoc on the immune system and other brain/body systems, leading other brain/body systems, leading to anxiety and/or depression.to anxiety and/or depression.

Arousal and PerformanceArousal and Performance

Arousal theory states that with Arousal theory states that with easy and well-learned tasks, easy and well-learned tasks, arousal enhances performance. arousal enhances performance.

With difficult or unrehearsed tasks With difficult or unrehearsed tasks arousal hurts performance.arousal hurts performance.

Arousal and emotionArousal and emotion

It is very difficult to tell the It is very difficult to tell the difference between aroused difference between aroused emotional states: anger, fear, lust: emotional states: anger, fear, lust: although the behavioral look of although the behavioral look of each is distinct. each is distinct.

This implies a cognitive This implies a cognitive component.component.

Emotion and the BrainEmotion and the Brain

Different emotions flow through Different emotions flow through different brain circuits.different brain circuits.

Disgust and sadness tends to Disgust and sadness tends to trigger right brain circuits.trigger right brain circuits.

Happiness and other positive Happiness and other positive emotions tend to be left frontal emotions tend to be left frontal lobe activities.lobe activities.

Expressing EmotionExpressing Emotion

Feeling emotion and expressing emotions are Feeling emotion and expressing emotions are two very different things.two very different things.

Much of communication is nonverbal: body, Much of communication is nonverbal: body, face and gestures. Staring into eyes can give face and gestures. Staring into eyes can give good “love” information.good “love” information.

People are very good at reading nonverbal People are very good at reading nonverbal cues. You can tell a happy face from 100 yds.cues. You can tell a happy face from 100 yds.

Angry faces tend to leap out of the crowd at Angry faces tend to leap out of the crowd at you.you.

Reading EmotionsReading Emotions

Introverts are better at reading Introverts are better at reading nonverbal cues, extroverts are nonverbal cues, extroverts are better at expressing them.better at expressing them.

Expressiveness and CultureExpressiveness and Culture

Cultures vary in the emotions that they Cultures vary in the emotions that they express and the intensity in which they express and the intensity in which they express it. However, facial expressions express it. However, facial expressions for various expressions are universal.for various expressions are universal.

For instance, Japanese rarely show self-For instance, Japanese rarely show self-aggrandizing and negative emotions, but aggrandizing and negative emotions, but likely to show happiness, as means of likely to show happiness, as means of social glue. social glue.

ExpressivenessExpressiveness

Expressions not only communicate Expressions not only communicate emotion, but they also regulate it.emotion, but they also regulate it.

Smiling will make you happier.Smiling will make you happier.Walking boldly will make you more Walking boldly will make you more

confident.confident.Pull up on your desk, push down Pull up on your desk, push down

on it, which feels better?on it, which feels better?

Experiencing emotionExperiencing emotion

Emotions can be categorized in three Emotions can be categorized in three different ways:different ways:

Pleasant vs. unpleasantPleasant vs. unpleasant Intense vs. sleepyIntense vs. sleepy Long-lasting vs. brief: which lasts longer?Long-lasting vs. brief: which lasts longer?

Sadness lasts longer than grief/anger.Sadness lasts longer than grief/anger.

Concealing emotionsConcealing emotions

Humans are also good at intentionally Humans are also good at intentionally concealing emotions. concealing emotions.

Studies show that only those highly Studies show that only those highly trained for looking for deceit are good at trained for looking for deceit are good at it, even law enforcement officers rarely it, even law enforcement officers rarely do better than random guessing. do better than random guessing.

However, without intentional deception, However, without intentional deception, even the very young can read emotions even the very young can read emotions with great accuracy.with great accuracy.

FearFear

Controlled by the amygdala located at Controlled by the amygdala located at the ends of the hippocampus in the the ends of the hippocampus in the Limbic system of the lower brain.Limbic system of the lower brain.

Fear is adaptive to fight/flee from Fear is adaptive to fight/flee from dangerous events. We can learn to fear dangerous events. We can learn to fear just about anything, but we fear some just about anything, but we fear some things easier than others: heights, things easier than others: heights, spiders, snakes.spiders, snakes.

Figure 13.5 The brain’s shortcut for emotionsMyers: Psychology, Eighth EditionCopyright © 2007 by Worth Publishers

FearFear Humans can learn to fear embarrassment Humans can learn to fear embarrassment

and social situations which can become and social situations which can become maladaptive when extreme.maladaptive when extreme.

Chronic anxiety (fear) of social events Chronic anxiety (fear) of social events can have devastating effects on your can have devastating effects on your immune system and other mood systems immune system and other mood systems (depression/anxiety disorders).(depression/anxiety disorders).

Extreme fear of a specific trigger is called Extreme fear of a specific trigger is called a phobia.a phobia.

Thresholds of FearThresholds of Fear

Peoples’ triggers for fear vary. Peoples’ triggers for fear vary. Some are not easily fearful: test Some are not easily fearful: test pilots, serial killers, type B pilots, serial killers, type B personalities; while some are personalities; while some are anxious/nervous almost all the anxious/nervous almost all the time. time.

Tranquilizers operate on this Tranquilizers operate on this brain/body system.brain/body system.

HappinessHappiness

One’s mood colors everything else: One’s mood colors everything else: memories, assessments of relationships, memories, assessments of relationships, relative well-being (relative well-being (ratio of positive thoughts ratio of positive thoughts

versus negative or as a sense of life satisfaction),versus negative or as a sense of life satisfaction), thoughts of the future.thoughts of the future.

Feel Good, Do Good PhenomenaFeel Good, Do Good Phenomena: one of : one of the most consistent findings in Psych: The the most consistent findings in Psych: The happier you are the more likely you are to happier you are the more likely you are to help others.help others.

HappinessHappiness People have a happiness set point (50% People have a happiness set point (50%

heritable). In general happiness hovers in a heritable). In general happiness hovers in a range around that point independent of life range around that point independent of life circumstances. If something extremely bad circumstances. If something extremely bad happens or extremely good , you eventually happens or extremely good , you eventually rebound back to your range.rebound back to your range.

Two years later, the relative happiness of Two years later, the relative happiness of accident paraplegics and lottery winners is accident paraplegics and lottery winners is the same.the same.

Money and HappinessMoney and Happiness

Money does not buy happiness. There is Money does not buy happiness. There is no relationship between money and no relationship between money and happiness, with the exception of the happiness, with the exception of the desperately poor in impoverished desperately poor in impoverished countries.countries.

Money only buys a temporary surge of Money only buys a temporary surge of happiness.happiness.

Adaptation-Level PrincipleAdaptation-Level Principle

The tendency to judge various stimuli The tendency to judge various stimuli relative to our previous experiences. relative to our previous experiences.

If circumstances change, within If circumstances change, within months months you recalibrate your levelyou recalibrate your level and then emotionally judge and then emotionally judge experiences relative to the new experiences relative to the new circumstancecircumstance..

Adaptation-Level PrincipleAdaptation-Level Principle

So, for material wealth to increase So, for material wealth to increase relative-well being would require relative-well being would require an-ever increasing abundance.an-ever increasing abundance.

Think about the Amish; never Think about the Amish; never had, never missed.had, never missed.

Relative Deprivation PrincipleRelative Deprivation Principle

Not only is happiness relative to our own Not only is happiness relative to our own previous experiences, but we compare previous experiences, but we compare ourselves to others just above and just ourselves to others just above and just below us.below us.

So, if everyone gets an A, we’re not as So, if everyone gets an A, we’re not as happy as if we got the only A. If you’re GPA happy as if we got the only A. If you’re GPA is 3.0, you’ll be happier comparing yourself is 3.0, you’ll be happier comparing yourself to 2.0s than 4.0s. Basically someone is to 2.0s than 4.0s. Basically someone is always above and always below.always above and always below.

Get Happiness!!!!(within your Get Happiness!!!!(within your inherited range)inherited range)

Most derived enjoyment from becoming Most derived enjoyment from becoming engrossed in interesting meaningful work and engrossed in interesting meaningful work and play (the less expensive, the better): Get play (the less expensive, the better): Get flowflow..

Form close meaningful relationships with Form close meaningful relationships with others.others.

People who feel an People who feel an internal locus of controlinternal locus of control report being happier.report being happier.

Have faith in something larger than Have faith in something larger than themselves.themselves.

What are emotions?What are emotions?

The interplay of physiological The interplay of physiological arousal, expressive behavior arousal, expressive behavior andand conscious experience.conscious experience.

James-Lange TheoryJames-Lange Theory

Says that emotions are Says that emotions are experienced experienced AFTER AFTER physiological physiological arousal occurs and the brain arousal occurs and the brain reads the response.reads the response.

Cannon-Bard TheoryCannon-Bard Theory

Disagreed with James-Lange, says that Disagreed with James-Lange, says that emotions occur SIMULTANEOUSLY in the emotions occur SIMULTANEOUSLY in the brain and body. The brain routes the brain and body. The brain routes the sensory message to both at the same sensory message to both at the same time.time.

Cannon-Bard’s theory explains how the Cannon-Bard’s theory explains how the same physiological arousal can cause same physiological arousal can cause different emotions.different emotions.

Schacter’s Two-Factor TheorySchacter’s Two-Factor Theory OR OR Schacter-Singer 2-Factor TheorySchacter-Singer 2-Factor Theory

Combines the other two.Combines the other two. Says that the physical arousal is the fuel that Says that the physical arousal is the fuel that

intensifies the emotion.intensifies the emotion. However after arousal occurs, the brain then However after arousal occurs, the brain then

puts a label on through cognition, deciding puts a label on through cognition, deciding what the emotions should be.what the emotions should be.

Epinephrine experiment with college Epinephrine experiment with college students. Their experience of emotion students. Their experience of emotion depended on what they believed.depended on what they believed.

Opponent Process Theory of Opponent Process Theory of EmotionEmotion

When you feel one emotion (fear of public When you feel one emotion (fear of public speaking), you will feel the opposite feeling speaking), you will feel the opposite feeling when resolved (feeling elated afterward). when resolved (feeling elated afterward).

But when the first emotion is repeated, it is But when the first emotion is repeated, it is less intense and the opponent feeling less intense and the opponent feeling becomes stronger. (So next less afraid of becomes stronger. (So next less afraid of public speaking, but the elation is stronger public speaking, but the elation is stronger when done.)when done.)

Opponent Process Theory Opponent Process Theory of Emotionof Emotion

Examples: Do drugs, feel good, come down, get Examples: Do drugs, feel good, come down, get depressed. Do more drugs, not as high, come down depressed. Do more drugs, not as high, come down harder.harder.

Exercise hard, causes pain, stop exercise, feel sense of Exercise hard, causes pain, stop exercise, feel sense of well-being, exercise again, little easier, stop-- well-being well-being, exercise again, little easier, stop-- well-being is even better.is even better.

Moral: Do painful/difficult/disciplined stuff (studying) as Moral: Do painful/difficult/disciplined stuff (studying) as primary emotion, because the reward is more primary emotion, because the reward is more pleasurable.pleasurable.

AngerAnger

Most people report becoming at least Most people report becoming at least mildly angry several times a week.mildly angry several times a week.

Generally triggers areGenerally triggers are perceived perceived misdeeds of friends and loved ones.misdeeds of friends and loved ones.

Particularly anger-provoking when the Particularly anger-provoking when the deeds are thought to be willful, unjustified deeds are thought to be willful, unjustified and avoidable.and avoidable.

AngerAnger

Anger is adaptive for arousing Anger is adaptive for arousing protective reactions, but protective reactions, but maladaptive when it fuels maladaptive when it fuels behaviors we later regretbehaviors we later regret..

Anger and CatharsisAnger and Catharsis

Displaying anger is not Displaying anger is not cathartic (cleansing)--cathartic (cleansing)--it it increases anger. increases anger.

The immediate soothing effect it The immediate soothing effect it causes becomes positively causes becomes positively reinforcing, building anger as reinforcing, building anger as habitual response.habitual response.

Dealing with AngerDealing with Anger

Calm down first!!! Remember the fuel of Calm down first!!! Remember the fuel of emotion is physical arousal, so when you emotion is physical arousal, so when you come back to homeostasis, you’ll be more come back to homeostasis, you’ll be more rational.rational.

Deal with issues, quickly and directly (after Deal with issues, quickly and directly (after calming down), so as not to rehearse the calming down), so as not to rehearse the anger-provoking incident.anger-provoking incident.

Aerobic exercise elevates mood, and burns Aerobic exercise elevates mood, and burns epinephrine and cortisol.epinephrine and cortisol.