Psychology: Emotions Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of emotions?

An emotion can be defined as a personal experience that involves a mixture of physiological responses, subjective feelings and expressive behaviour.

What are the three elements of an emotion?

Subjective feelings, physiological response, expressive behaviour.

What are subjective feelings?

Personal experience of an emotion, including the way in which we think about an emotion.

What does physiological response refer to in emotions?

Changes in our bodies that occur when we experience emotion. Signup and view all the answers

What is expressive behaviour?

Outward observable expressions of behaviour which communicate emotions. Signup and view all the answers

How do people generally experience emotions?

People experience a similar range of basic emotions, but individuals differ in the intensity of their emotional experiences. Signup and view all the answers

Give an example of a subjective feeling.

Unpleasant mental state. Signup and view all the answers

Provide an example of a physiological response.

Hands sweat with nervousness. Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of expressive behaviour?

Tapping a foot. Signup and view all the answers

What are the five basic emotions?

Fear Signup and view all the answers

What are cultural influences on emotions?

One culture may have different gestures and ways to communicate. Signup and view all the answers

What is a gesture?

A body action used for communication. Signup and view all the answers

Females are 66% better at expressing happier emotions than males.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the fight or flight response?

A state of physiological arousal that prepares the body to deal with sudden threats. Signup and view all the answers

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

Autonomic because many of the functions under its control occur autonomically or independently of the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Activates nerves, glands and visceral muscles to prepare the body for fight or flight. Signup and view all the answers

What does the parasympathetic nervous system do?

Relaxes the body and returns it to a calm and unemotional state. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotions

Defined as personal experiences comprising physiological responses, subjective feelings, and expressive behavior.

Elements of Emotions

Subjective feelings: Personal experiences of emotions influenced by individual thought processes.
Physiological response: Bodily changes that occur during emotional experiences.
Expressive behavior: Observable actions that convey emotions to others.

Subjective Feelings

Reflect the personal experience of an emotion and one's contemplation about it.

Physiological Responses

Include bodily changes such as increased heart rate or sweating associated with emotional experiences.

Expressive Behavior

Represents the outward physical manifestations of emotions, like gestures or facial expressions.

Emotional Experience

Although many share similar basic emotions, individuals differ in the intensity with which they experience these emotions.

Basic Emotions

Anger
Fear
Happiness
Sadness
Disgust

Cultural Influences

Varying cultural contexts can lead to differing gestures and non-verbal communication methods.

Gesture

Defined as any body action used to communicate feelings or messages.

Gender Differences

Females show a 66% greater capacity for expressing happiness and are more adept at emotional communication compared to males.

Fight or Flight Response

A physiological state that prepares the body to react to sudden threats through arousal.

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Operates independently of conscious control, managing functions without our awareness.

Sympathetic Nervous System

Activates physiological processes (such as heart rate and blood flow) to prepare the body for fight or flight situations.

Parasympathetic Nervous System

Functions to relax the body and restore it to a calm state, counteracting the effects of the sympathetic nervous system.

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Description

Test your knowledge of emotions with these flashcards. Each card presents key definitions and concepts underlying emotional experiences—including physiological responses and expressive behaviors. Perfect for psychology students looking to reinforce their understanding of emotions.