Psychology 150 - Study Guide 3

Questions and Answers

What are the basic components of emotion?

Physiological arousal, expressive behaviors, consciously experienced thoughts and feelings.

What is the James-Lange theory?

The theory that our experience of emotion is our awareness of our physiological responses to emotion-arousing stimuli.

What is the Cannon-Bard theory?

The theory that an emotion-arousing stimulus simultaneously triggers physiological responses and the subjective experience of emotion.

What is the Schachter-Singer theory?

The theory that to experience emotion one must be physically aroused and cognitively label the arousal. Signup and view all the answers

What are the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and what do they do?

The sympathetic division directs adrenal glands to release stress hormones during a crisis, while the parasympathetic division takes over when the crisis passes. Signup and view all the answers

What's the bottom line about lie detectors (polygraphs)?

Polygraphs measure physiological changes that accompany emotions, but they are not always accurate. Signup and view all the answers

What emotion is enhanced by staring into the eyes of another?

Attraction and affection. Signup and view all the answers

What does the research indicate about nonverbal expression of emotion?

Women generally surpass men at reading emotional cues in behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Research on gender and emotional intelligence suggests....?

Women are better at identifying emotions than men. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does imitating another person's facial expression usually have?

It usually makes us feel the emotion being portrayed. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does anger catharsis usually have?

It usually has a temporarily calming effect or can sometimes breed more anger. Signup and view all the answers

Mentally rehearsing anger produces what physiological responses?

Perspiration, blood pressure, heart rate, and facial tension. Signup and view all the answers

What effects are produced by major life events, good and bad, on LONG-TERM feelings of satisfaction?

They often result in feelings of less happiness than usual but still more happiness than a person with depression. Signup and view all the answers

Subjective well-being is correlated with the value placed on money and love. In which direction(s) (positive or negative) are these correlations?

Money has a negative correlation and love has a positive correlation with life satisfaction. Signup and view all the answers

What factors are clearly related to life satisfaction?

Genes and relationship quality. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the research on stressful life events.

They lead individuals to become depressed, sleepless, and anxious. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the loss of perceived control have on the body?

It makes us more vulnerable to ill health. Signup and view all the answers

What are Type A personalities? Type B?

Type A personalities are competitive and impatient; Type B personalities are easygoing and relaxed. Signup and view all the answers

What is relative deprivation and how does it affect satisfaction with life?

The perception of being worse off relative to others, causing envy and a need to count blessings. Signup and view all the answers

What effect do chronic anger and depression have on heart disease?

They negatively affect the immune system and increase susceptibility to heart disease. Signup and view all the answers

What is aerobic exercise most closely linked to?

Reducing depression and alleviating negative emotions. Signup and view all the answers

The longest life expectancies are associated with what frequency of religious service attendance?

A more than weekly frequency of religious service attendance. Signup and view all the answers

Define personality.

An individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting. Signup and view all the answers

What is the unconscious mind?

A reservoir of mostly unpredictable thoughts, feelings, and memories outside of conscious awareness. Signup and view all the answers

Which approach theorist places the most emphasis on the unconscious mind?

Freud. Signup and view all the answers

Define id.

Contains a reservoir of unconscious psychic energy that strives to satisfy basic drives. Signup and view all the answers

Define ego.

The largely conscious part of personality that mediates between id, superego, and reality. Signup and view all the answers

Define superego.

The part of personality that represents internalized ideals and provides standards for judgment. Signup and view all the answers

According to Freud, what is the purpose of defense mechanisms?

To protect the ego by reducing anxiety through indirect and unconscious means. Signup and view all the answers

Define and be able to identify examples of regression.

Regression is retreating to a more infantile psychosexual stage. Signup and view all the answers

Define and be able to identify examples of displacement.

Displacement is shifting impulses to a more acceptable object. Signup and view all the answers

Define and be able to identify examples of projection.

Projection is attributing one's own threatening impulses to others. Signup and view all the answers

What is the TAT?

A projective test where individuals create stories about ambiguous scenes. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Rorschach?

A projective test using inkblots to analyze people's inner feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is the MMPI?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, a widely used personality test. Signup and view all the answers

What concept of reaching full potential is Maslow identified with?

Self-actualization. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 components of unconditional positive regard, according to Rogers?

Genuineness, acceptance, and empathy. Signup and view all the answers

What recommendations might Rogers and Maslow have for parents who want to raise children with accepting attitudes?

Developing a positive self-concept. Signup and view all the answers

What are the Big Five Personality factors?

Conscientiousness, agreeableness, neuroticism, openness, and extraversion. Signup and view all the answers

What is learned helplessness?

The hopelessness and passive resignation learned when unable to avoid aversive events. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the research on locus of control.

Internals achieve more, enjoy better health, and feel less depressed than externals. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the research on self-esteem. What response is usually generated when individuals are made to feel insecure?

Accepting yourself leads to accepting others; feeling insecure often generates disparaging behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Define psychological disorder from the medical model perspective.

Ongoing patterns of thoughts, feelings, and actions that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three 'Ds' that define a behavior as disordered?

Deviant, distressful, dysfunctional. Signup and view all the answers

What is the DSM-IV? What is it used for?

A classification system for psychological disorders used to define a diagnostic process. Signup and view all the answers

What is bipolar disorder?

A mood disorder characterized by alternating between depression and mania. Signup and view all the answers

What is panic disorder? (And what is a panic attack?)

An anxiety disorder marked by episodes of intense dread and terror. Signup and view all the answers

What is obsessive-compulsive disorder?

An anxiety disorder where a person is constantly tense and apprehensive. Signup and view all the answers

What is generalized anxiety disorder?

An anxiety disorder characterized by excessive and persistent worry. Signup and view all the answers

What is post-traumatic stress disorder?

An anxiety disorder characterized by haunting memories and anxiety following trauma. Signup and view all the answers

What is antisocial personality disorder?

A disorder characterized by a lack of conscience for wrongdoing. Signup and view all the answers

What is schizophrenia? What are flat affect and catatonia?

A disorder exhibiting disorganized thinking and inappropriate emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is major depressive disorder?

A mood disorder involving at least two weeks of significantly depressed mood. Signup and view all the answers

What is dissociative identity disorder?

A rare condition where a person exhibits two or more distinct personalities. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the symptoms of the manic phase of bipolar disorder.

Overactivity, talkativeness, elation, irritability, and reduced need for sleep. Signup and view all the answers

When is the risk of suicide the greatest during the depressive episode?

During late adulthood. Signup and view all the answers

Which disorder is most closely associated with abnormally low levels of serotonin?

Depression. Signup and view all the answers

Which symptoms are most closely associated with schizophrenia?

Disorganized thinking, disturbed perceptions, and inappropriate emotions. Signup and view all the answers

What is an eclectic psychotherapist?

A therapist who uses various techniques depending on the client's needs. Signup and view all the answers

Differentiate between behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, and psychoanalytic therapies.

Behavior therapy focuses on changing behaviors, cognitive therapy targets thought processes, humanistic therapy emphasizes personal growth, and psychoanalytic therapy delves into the unconscious. Signup and view all the answers

What is behavior therapy?

Identifying objectionable, maladaptive behaviors and replacing them with healthier types of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive therapy?

A therapy that teaches people new, more adaptive ways of thinking and acting. Signup and view all the answers

Who was Carl Rogers and which type of therapy is he associated with?

A therapist who created client-centered therapy, associated with humanistic therapy. Signup and view all the answers

Define systematic desensitization.

A type of exposure therapy that associates a pleasant relaxed state with gradually increasing anxiety-triggering stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

What is a token economy?

An operant conditioning procedure in which people earn a token for exhibiting a desired behavior. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of therapy focuses on eliminating irrational thinking?

Cognitive therapy. Signup and view all the answers

Which disorder is treated with medication that increases norepinephrine or serotonin?

Many types of depression. Signup and view all the answers

What is biomedical therapy?

Prescribed medications or medical procedures that act directly on the patient's nervous system. Signup and view all the answers

What is social psychology?

The scientific study of how we think about, influence, and relate to one another. Signup and view all the answers

What is cognitive dissonance?

The feeling of discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the bystander effect?

The tendency for any given bystander to be less likely to give aid if other bystanders are present. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the presence of observers have on performance?

The presence of others/observers boosts performance. Signup and view all the answers

Define altruism.

Unselfish regard for the welfare of others. Signup and view all the answers

Explain fundamental attribution error.

The tendency to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition. Signup and view all the answers

What is groupthink?

The mode of thinking that occurs when the desire for harmony in a decision-making group overrides realistic appraisal of alternatives. Signup and view all the answers

What is social loafing?

The tendency for people in a group to exert less effort when pooling efforts toward a common goal. Signup and view all the answers

What is deindividuation?

The loss of self-awareness and self-restraint in group situations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the just-world phenomenon?

The tendency for people to believe the world is just and that people get what they deserve. Signup and view all the answers

Summarize the Dutton and Aron study on attraction.

Men crossing a high bridge were more likely to contact an attractive woman afterward. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristics are associated with children who play a lot of violent video games?

They start becoming more violent and aggressive. Signup and view all the answers

What family factors are associated with violence?

Parental education, observational learning from parents, race, income, and living in a father-absent home. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Basic Components of Emotion

Emotions consist of physiological arousal (like a racing heart), expressive behaviors (such as a rapid pace), and conscious feelings (like fear followed by joy).

Theories of Emotion

James-Lange Theory: We experience emotions based on our awareness of physiological responses to stimuli.
Cannon-Bard Theory: An emotion-arousing stimulus triggers physiological responses and emotional experiences simultaneously.
Schachter-Singer Theory: Emotion is experienced through physical arousal and cognitive labeling of that arousal.

Nervous Systems and Emotions

The sympathetic nervous system activates stress responses, while the parasympathetic system calms the body after a crisis.
Lie detectors measure physiological changes tied to emotions but can be inaccurate, often erring with innocent individuals under stress.

Nonverbal Communication and Gender Differences

Women tend to excel in interpreting emotional cues and demonstrate greater emotional expressiveness.
Research indicates that women possess higher emotional intelligence than men.

Emotional Responses and Mental Rehearsal

Imitating facial expressions can enhance the feelings we experience, such as attraction.
Anger catharsis can temporarily alleviate feelings but may result in increased anger over time.
Mentally rehearsing anger heightens physiological arousal, while rehearsing forgiveness reduces negative feelings.

Life Satisfaction and Major Life Events

Major life events lead to temporary happiness fluctuations, yet higher satisfaction is associated with valuing love over money.
Key factors influencing life satisfaction include genetics and the quality of relationships.

Stress and Health

Stressful life events can lead to emotional disturbances like depression, insomnia, and anxiety.
A perceived loss of control increases vulnerability to health issues like heart disease, which is further exacerbated by chronic anger and depression.

Personality Types

Type A personalities are aggressive and competitive, whereas Type B personalities are relaxed and easygoing.
Relative Deprivation: Feeling worse compared to others can generate envy and dissatisfaction.

Psychological Disorders

Psychological disorders are defined by patterns that are deviant, distressful, and dysfunctional.
The DSM-IV provides a classification system for various psychological disorders without addressing their causes.

Mood Disorders

Bipolar Disorder: Characterized by swings between depressive lows and manic highs.
Major Depressive Disorder: Involves prolonged periods of depressed mood, worthlessness, and lack of interest.

Anxiety Disorders

Panic Disorder: Involves sudden episodes of intense fear accompanied by physical symptoms like chest pain.
Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Characterized by persistent tension and anxiety.

Schizophrenia and Personality Disorders

Schizophrenia: Includes disorganized thinking, delusions, and disturbed perceptions.
Antisocial Personality Disorder: Features lack of conscience and manipulative behaviors.

Psychotherapy Techniques

Behavioral Therapy: Focuses on changing maladaptive behaviors.
Cognitive Therapy: Aims to alter thought patterns that influence behaviors.
Humanistic Therapy: Promotes self-fulfillment and self-acceptance.
Psychoanalytic Therapy: Seeks to uncover repressed emotions and experiences.

Notable Figures and Concepts

Carl Rogers: Known for client-centered therapy, emphasizing empathy and acceptance.
Maslow's Hierarchy: Self-actualization represents the highest potential.

Therapeutic Approaches

Systematic Desensitization: A therapeutic process involving gradual exposure to anxiety-producing stimuli associated with relaxation techniques, often used to treat phobias.### Systematic Desensitization
Individuals with spider phobia may perceive threats differently based on proximity and size of the spider.
Deep relaxation techniques, including control over breathing and muscle detensioning, are employed before exposure.
Exposure to the least threatening scenario in an anxiety hierarchy occurs until anxiety diminishes.
This process continues through increasingly threatening situations until addressing the most anxiety-provoking scenario.
Research indicates that exposure is critical, while relaxation techniques may not be necessary.
Session requirements typically range from 4-12, depending on the phobia's severity.

Token Economy

An operant conditioning method where individuals earn tokens for exhibiting desired behaviors.
Tokens can be exchanged for various privileges or treats.

Cognitive Therapy

Focuses on eliminating irrational thinking and is effective for depression.
Addresses depressive symptoms linked to failure through personal attribution.

Light-Exposure Therapy

Effective for treating various disorders, notably Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

Effectiveness of Therapy

Analysis shows both professional therapists and paraprofessionals can be effective, but psychotherapy generally leads to greater improvement than no therapy.
Individuals with specific, clear-cut problems tend to see the most benefit from therapy.

Biomedical Therapy

Involves prescription medications or medical procedures targeting the nervous system, with drug therapies being the most common today.
Norepinephrine and serotonin-increasing medications are utilized for various types of depression and anxiety disorders, including OCD.

Electroconvulsive Therapy

Primarily used for severe depression, especially in patients unresponsive to drug therapy.

The scientific study of interpersonal thought, influence, and relationships.

Fundamental Attribution Error

Observers tend to undervalue situational factors in others' behavior while overvaluing personal characteristics.
Example: A quiet student might be seen as shy without considering potential situational influences.

Foot-in-the-door phenomenon: people more likely to agree to a larger request after agreeing to a small one.
Attitudes influence actions primarily when external influences are minimal, and the attitudes are stable and specific.

Zimbardo's Simulation Experiment

College students acted as guards or prisoners in a simulated prison setting.
Guards adopted authoritarian roles leading to damaging behaviors, while prisoners faced psychological distress, prompting early termination of the study.

Milgram's Obedience Study

Participants believed they were studying learning, administering electric shocks to a learner (actor) for wrong answers.
Despite hearing protests and pleas, many participants continued to administer shocks when urged by an authority figure.

Cognitive Dissonance

Describes discomfort from holding conflicting beliefs, leading to tension and potential attitude change.

Suggestibility

The degree to which individuals are influenced by suggestions, impacting how they interpret information.

Solomon Asch's Research on Conformity

Demonstrated the influence of group consensus on individual responses in a study of visual perception.

The Presence of Observers

Presence of others generally enhances individual performance.

Refers to decreased effort in a group context compared to when individuals are accountable.

Deindividuation

Characterized by a loss of self-awareness and restraint in group settings that promote anonymity.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where group harmony impede realistic appraisal of alternatives, avoidable by encouraging diverse opinions.

Minority Influence

A consistent minority viewpoint can effectively sway the majority, even at the cost of popularity.

Just-World Phenomenon

The belief that the world is fair, leading to the perception that individuals get what they deserve.

Environmental Factors in Aggression

Aggressive behavior may be learned from one's environment; rejection can exacerbate aggressive tendencies.

Family Factors Linked to Violence

Factors include parental education, observational learning, income, race, and father-absent homes.

Impact of Violent Pornography

Frequent exposure may normalize aggressive behaviors and diminish sensitivity to violence.

Children and Violent Video Games

High engagement with violent video games is associated with increased aggression and reduced sensitivity to cruelty.

First Impressions

Typically formed based on physical appearance.

Friendship Preferences

We tend to favor friends with similarities in attitudes, beliefs, interests, and demographics.

Dutton and Aron Study on Attraction

Explored how physical arousal, in conjunction with an attractive person, can enhance feelings of attraction.

Altruism

Defined as selfless concern for the well-being of others.

Bystander Effect

Observers are less likely to intervene when others are present, diminishing individual responsibility to help.

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Description

This quiz covers fundamental concepts in emotion from Psychology 150. You'll explore the basic components of emotion and key theories such as the James-Lange theory. Perfect for students looking to reinforce their understanding of emotional psychology.