Philosophical Approaches to Emotions

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Questions and Answers

Which study is credited with opening the door to the scientific study of mental states?

Mesmerism

Freud’s psychosexual theory

Roger Sheppard's 'mental rotation' studies (correct)

Behaviorism

What did Robert Zajonc's 'mere exposure' studies primarily demonstrate?

Faces on Japanese crabs demonstrate natural selection

We can emotionally remember familiar things (correct)

Humans do not have minds

Facial expressions of emotions are vestigial

According to Aristotle, how are emotions connected to beliefs?

Emotions have no influence on beliefs.

Emotions are shaped only by external factors.

Emotions are solely narratives without any connection to beliefs.

Emotions follow beliefs but can also shape them. (correct)

What does Descartes suggest about the relationship between emotions and the body?

Emotions are separate from the body and reside in the 'soul'. Signup and view all the answers

What does Aristotle define the function of tragic theater as?

A way to achieve Katharsis through emotional identification. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of emotions does Spinoza describe as coming from accepting the universe as it is?

Active emotions Signup and view all the answers

In the Dunkirk movie example, what emotion does the soldier feel toward the blind volunteer?

Shame Signup and view all the answers

How does Spinoza differentiate between emotions?

Active emotions come from acceptance, while passive emotions arise from rejection. Signup and view all the answers

What did Thomas Jefferson mean when he referred to the dialogue between his head and heart in his letter to Maria Cosway?

A conflict between reason and emotion regarding their relationship Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements reflects Jefferson's viewpoint on emotions and understanding?

Understanding emotions is crucial for gaining freedom from them. Signup and view all the answers

What was the nature of Jefferson's relationship with Maria Cosway?

Their relationship was an affair marked by emotional complexity. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following actions did Jefferson take during his lifetime?

He invented various devices and practiced architecture. Signup and view all the answers

What did Jefferson mean by 'Everything in this world is a matter of calculation'?

Rational thought should guide emotional decisions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary theme in Jefferson's correspondence with María Cosway?

The emotional pain of their separation and rational thoughts about it. Signup and view all the answers

Which idea does Jefferson's letter suggest regarding the learning process from one's mistakes?

Folly can provide valuable lessons if acknowledged. Signup and view all the answers

Which perspective does Jefferson NOT advocate for when dealing with emotional pain?

Making decisions based solely on feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested as a common misconception about happiness?

Happiness is found in absence of pain. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher is associated with the idea that emotions can be helpful for moral decision-making?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

What finding supports the idea that emotions are inherent rather than learned?

Blind and deaf individuals exhibit same facial expressions as those with sight and hearing. Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which basic emotion is NOT explicitly listed as fundamental?

Joy Signup and view all the answers

What role does culture play in shaping emotions according to Ekman's theory?

Culture determines norms of emotional expression. Signup and view all the answers

What does Jane Goodall’s observation of chimpanzees indicate about their emotions?

Chimps and humans share basic emotions due to similar emotional states. Signup and view all the answers

How does serotonin relate to aggression in both chimpanzees and humans?

Increased serotonin levels correspond with higher aggression and social confidence. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of emotion does Descartes believe to be unhelpful?

Emotional responses affecting decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What effect did serotonin supplementation have on the social hierarchy among chimps observed by Goodall?

A beta chimp became the new alpha after serotonin treatment. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following encompasses the concept of emotion being universal?

Basic emotions are genetically determined. Signup and view all the answers

Why do researchers believe that primates such as chimpanzees demonstrate emotional behavior?

Similar emotional expressions can be recognized by inexperienced observers. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 'Display rules' in the context of cultural emotions?

Norms governing how emotions are appropriately shown. Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion would be categorized as unpleasant in Russell's Circumplex Model of Emotion?

Angry Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following emotions is NOT considered one of Ekman's basic emotions?

Guilt Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary source of confusion in Ekman's Study 1 involving the South Fore people?

The study methodology was flawed. Signup and view all the answers

In which of Ekman's studies did the South Fore show comparable results to Americans when identifying emotions from a story?

Study 2 Signup and view all the answers

How does the critique of Ekman's 'Literate Cultures' study address cultural influence on emotion recognition?

Cultures share literature and media, affecting their emotional understanding. Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion did the South Fore perform comparably to Americans when asked to express it in Study 3?

Anger Signup and view all the answers

What method did Ekman use in Study 2 to help the South Fore identify emotions?

Storytelling to evoke emotions Signup and view all the answers

What did the results from the happiness data in the cross-cultural study indicate?

Most cultures had near-equal agreement on recognizing happiness. Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher's ideas are related to the approach taken in Ekman's second study?

Aristotle Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Approaches to Emotions: Philosophical and Evolutionary

Roger Sheppard’s “mental rotation” studies opened the door to the scientific study of mental states.
Robert Zajonc’s “mere exposure” studies showed that familiarity influences emotional responses.

Aristotle

Emotions are connected to action.
Emotions follow beliefs but also can shape beliefs.
Emotions are tied to narrative, to stories, and drama.
The function of tragic theater is Katharsis—clarity gained by emotional identification with others.

Descartes

The mind and body are separate.
Emotions occur in the “soul,” not the body.
Emotions tell us how events affect our thinking selves.
Emotions are shaped by the way we appraise events.

Spinoza

Active emotions come from loving the world as it is.
Passive emotions, such as bitterness and envy, come from rejecting the perfection of the universe.
People are aware of desires, but ignorant of the causes of those desires.
Emotions stem from how we appraise the world.
Emotions cloud understanding.

Thomas Jefferson

Jefferson believed that emotions are essential to happiness and that they can be both helpful and harmful.
He believed that the head (reason) and the heart (emotions) should work together.
Jefferson argued that it is important to avoid pain and that happiness is not simply the absence of pain.

Basic Emotions

Happiness, anger, sadness, fear, disgust, and surprise (maybe) are proposed as basic emotions.

Russell’s Circumplex Model of Emotion

Emotions are categorized based on their arousal level (high or low) and pleasantness (pleasant or unpleasant).

Ekman’s Neurocultural Theory of Emotion

Facial expressions for each emotion are set by evolution.
Culture affects emotion in three ways:
- Determines what kinds of events cause us to experience emotions.
- Sets norms for expressing emotion—Display rules.
- Says how to act on emotions.

Ekman’s Basic Emotions

Fear, disgust, sadness, anger, happiness, and surprise are proposed as basic emotions.

Judgment of Emotion by Observers in Five Literate Cultures

Ekman and Friesen (1971) found high agreement in emotion recognition across five literate cultures: Japan, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, and the United States.

Critique of Ekman’s “Literate Cultures” Study

Literate cultures share common literature, TV, and radio, potentially leading to convergent understanding of emotions.
Cultural influence on emotion recognition could be a problem if it obscures true differences between cultures.

Ekman’s Pre-Literate Culture Studies

To address the problem of shared cultural influence, Ekman studied the South Fore people of New Guinea, a pre-literate culture.
Ekman’s early studies with the South Fore people did not find evidence for universal emotion recognition, suggesting that there might not be basic emotions or that the studies were flawed.
Later studies using stories to evoke emotions (linked to Aristotle's notion of narrative and emotion) showed that the South Fore people could recognize and express basic emotions similarly to Americans.

What Emotion?

Infant studies, observations of blind and deaf individuals, and primate studies show evidence for the universality of emotions.

Primate Studies and Emotions as Inherited

Jane Goodall's observations of chimpanzee behaviour provide evidence that chimpanzees share similar emotions with humans.
Aggressive behaviour in chimpanzees is linked to social hierarchies and serotonin levels.
Serotonin promotes aggression, assertiveness, and social confidence.
Chimpanzees appear to be emotional and seem to share the same basic emotions as humans.

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Description

This quiz explores the philosophical and evolutionary perspectives on emotions, focusing on the works of prominent thinkers like Aristotle, Descartes, and Spinoza. It examines how emotions influence beliefs, actions, and mental states, highlighting the connection between emotional responses and narratives. Delve into the role of emotions in shaping human experience and understanding.