Psychology: Emotion vs. Mood

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Questions and Answers

Which component of emotion involves the physiological changes that occur in response to a situation?

Conscious Experience

Motivation to Act

Bodily Responses (correct)

Expressive Behaviors

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of moods?

Last for seconds to minutes (correct)

Emerge from ill-defined events or have unknown origins

Exist in the background of consciousness

Influence cognition and thoughts

According to the Darwinian perspective, what is the primary evolutionary function of emotions?

To enhance survival and reproduction (correct)

To communicate with others

To express social status

To regulate cognitive processes

Which of the following scenarios best illustrates the interaction of the four components of emotion?

Getting angry when someone cuts you off in traffic (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the key difference between emotion and mood?

Emotions have a clear trigger, while moods may not. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How do expressive behaviors contribute to emotional experience?

They communicate emotions to others and regulate social interactions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a common misconception about the four components of emotion?

Bodily responses always precede conscious experiences. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of emotions, as described in the content?

Emotions have a longer duration than moods. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the Seven Emotional Systems identified by Jaak Panksepp?

Seeking, rage/anger, fear, lust, care, panic/sadness, play (C) Signup and view all the answers

What are the primary findings of Paul Ekman's research on facial expressions?

Certain facial expressions are universally recognized across cultures. (B) Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the James-Lange Theory, which sequence accurately describes emotional experience?

Perception → Bodily response → Emotional experience (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a major criticism of the Cannon-Bard Theory?

It does not adequately explain the simultaneous nature of perception and response. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory?

Emotions arise from physiological arousal and subsequent cognitive labeling. (A) Signup and view all the answers

According to the Appraisal Theory, how are emotions generated?

Based on cognitive evaluations of whether an event is beneficial or harmful. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role do display rules play in emotional expression?

They dictate when and how emotions should be expressed or suppressed. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the Facial Feedback Hypothesis?

Physical expressions can enhance or inhibit emotional experiences. (D) Signup and view all the answers

How does the 'Low Road' process emotion, according to Joseph LeDoux?

It includes a quick, unconscious response facilitated by the thalamus. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What did the Culture of Honor study reveal regarding emotions?

Honor cultures encourage confrontation as an emotional response to insults. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which emotion is primarily associated with the activation of fight-or-flight responses?

Fear (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, which theory emphasizes the importance of cognitive appraisals in emotional experience?

Richard Lazarus’s Theory (D) Signup and view all the answers

What emotional response is typically triggered by the physiological response of increased heart rate and rapid breathing?

Fear (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential outcome of experiencing disgust according to the evolutionary functions of emotions?

It reduces the likelihood of danger by promoting avoidance. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotion vs. Mood

Emotions arise from significant events and appraisals, influencing behavior and lasting seconds to minutes. They are in the foreground of consciousness.
Moods arise from undefined events or unknown origins, influencing cognition and lasting hours to days. They exist in the background of consciousness.

The Four Components of Emotion

Conscious Experience: Subjective feelings and related thoughts (e.g., "Is that a bear?"). This involves awareness and interpretation.
Bodily Responses: Physiological changes preparing the body for action (e.g., increased heart rate).
Expressive Behaviors: Observable actions like facial expressions, vocal tones, and postures, communicating emotions and coordinating interactions.
Motivation to Act: Action tendencies helping adapt to the environment (e.g., running away, confronting danger).

Perspectives on Emotion

Darwinian Perspective

Emotions evolved to solve adaptive problems, improving survival and reproduction.
Focuses on basic emotions conserved across species, their neural circuits, and evolutionary purpose.
- Jaak Panksepp's Seven Emotional Systems: Seeking, rage/anger, fear, lust, care, panic/sadness, play (mediated by subcortical regions).
- Paul Ekman's Six (or Seven) Universal Facial Expressions: Happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust, surprise, and potentially contempt. Studies show consistent cross-cultural recognition.
  - Evolutionary functions of facial expressions: Communication (e.g., fear signals danger) and adaptation (e.g., wide eyes improving perception). However, some cultures interpret expressions differently challenging universality.

Jamesian Perspective

Emphasis on physiological changes as the basis of emotions (Perception → Bodily Response → Emotional Experience).
James-Lange Theory: Each emotion has a unique physiological pattern.
Cannon's Criticisms of James-Lange: Physiological changes can be slow and similar across emotions; artificially inducing changes doesn't reliably produce emotions.
Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotion-arousing stimuli simultaneously trigger physiological responses and conscious experience; the thalamus plays a central role.
Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory: Emotion arises from physiological arousal and a cognitive label.

Cognitive Perspective

Focuses on appraisals (evaluations) as central to emotional experience.
Magda Arnold's Appraisal Theory: Appraisals of events (good/bad) lead to feelings, action tendencies, and physiological changes.
Richard Lazarus's Theory: Distinguishes primary (determines if an event is harmful) and secondary (evaluates coping) appraisals—different appraisals create different emotions.

Emotions are shaped by cultural norms and socialization.
James Averill's Theory: Emotions are social roles defined by cultural rules (e.g., expressions of anger vary across cultures).

Research Highlights

Facial Feedback Hypothesis: Facial expressions influence emotions (e.g., smiling increases happiness).
- Supporting evidence includes studies using Botox and Strack et al.'s (1988) pen-and-smile study.
Two Routes to Emotion (Joseph LeDoux):
- Low road: Quick, unconscious response mediated by the amygdala.
- High road: Slower, conscious processing mediated by the cerebral cortex. The prefrontal cortex influences emotion regulation.
Subliminal Processing and Emotion:
- Subliminal priming can influence liking ratings. Research (like Murphy and Zajonc, 1993) suggests unconscious emotional processing is possible. Blindsight studies further support this.

Types of Emotions (and their Functions)

Fear: Protects from danger, triggering fight-or-flight responses.
Anger: Mobilizes energy to overcome threats.
Disgust: Reduces exposure to harmful substances through avoidance behaviors.

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Description

This quiz explores the vital differences between emotions and moods, their components, and perspectives on emotions, including Darwinian views. Understand how these psychological constructs influence behavior, cognition, and interactions. Perfect for students of psychology looking to deepen their understanding.