Psychology of Pain and Self-Injury

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Questions and Answers

What increased as a result of training in meditation according to the findings?

Greater social disconnection

Increased negative emotions

Increased positive emotions (correct)

Decreased perception of support

Which type of support involves practical assistance like borrowing money?

Informational support

Emotional support

Tangible support (correct)

Social support

Achievement motivation is characterized by which dual aspect?

Desire to fail and avoid success

Desire to avoid failing and desire to succeed (correct)

Fear of success and desire to conform

Desire to succeed and fear of opportunity

What mindset influences children to adopt performance or mastery orientations?

Fixed mindset Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of performance orientation?

Avoiding failure and looking intelligent Signup and view all the answers

Which type of motivation is characterized by individuals seeking challenges even under difficulty?

Success motivation Signup and view all the answers

In what way do individuals with mastery orientation react to negative feedback?

They persist and increase their effort Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT associated with achieving a high performance orientation?

Desire for lifelong learning Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'concurrent motives' refer to in the context of pain-related impulses?

Experiencing multiple pain-related impulses simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

Which behavior exemplifies pain-inducing actions as mentioned in the content?

Running until legs ache. Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI)?

It encompasses acts such as cutting and burning. Signup and view all the answers

How does the Escape-from-Self Hypothesis explain NSSI?

Physical pain distracts from emotional pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is a prevailing attitude toward pain that is often observed in high-stakes professions?

Pain may be necessary for achieving valued goals. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of adults reportedly engage in NSSI?

Approximately 4%. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misconception about individuals who engage in NSSI?

They are often seeking attention. Signup and view all the answers

Why would remaining neutral to avoid pain lead to a monotonous life?

It prevents experiencing any form of excitement. Signup and view all the answers

What is defined as the coordinated behaviors, feelings, and physiological changes triggered by a personally relevant situation?

Emotion Signup and view all the answers

In the hierarchy of motives, when do higher-order needs become prominent?

When basic needs are met Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of happiness variation can be attributed to intentional activities?

40% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an intentional activity to increase happiness?

Expressing anger Signup and view all the answers

Which behavioral tendency is associated with emotionally positive stimuli?

Approaching Signup and view all the answers

What was one of Charles Darwin's hypotheses regarding facial expressions?

Facial expressions reflect our evolutionary heritage Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary role of the sympathetic nervous system?

Preparing the body for fight or flight Signup and view all the answers

Which specific expression is NOT mentioned as part of the emotional expressions?

Shrugs Signup and view all the answers

What does affective neuroscience study?

Neural activation patterns linked to emotions Signup and view all the answers

What evidence supports Darwin's views on emotional expressions?

Congenitally blind individuals show similar emotional expressions to sighted ones Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes alexithymia?

Difficulty in identifying and labeling emotions Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what triggers bodily responses to emotions?

Automatic nervous system activation Signup and view all the answers

What aspect did Paul Ekman's studies focus on regarding emotional expressions?

Cross-cultural comparisons of emotional expressions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the evolutionary perspective on facial expressions is accurate?

Facial expressions reflect adaptive patterns from our ancestors Signup and view all the answers

What does the adaptation process enhance in individuals?

Awareness of changes in stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What was Charles Darwin's hypothesis regarding facial expressions?

They are evolutionary vestiges aiding survival. Signup and view all the answers

Which emotional theory suggests that physiological responses lead to emotional experiences?

James-Lange Theory Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of happiness variation is attributed to intentional activities?

40% Signup and view all the answers

According to the Cannon-Bard Theory, what occurs simultaneously when a stimulus is encountered?

Physiological response and emotional experience Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key aspect of the Schachter-Singer Theory?

Situational cues play a role in interpreting emotions. Signup and view all the answers

How do emotions influence cognitive functions according to the Affect-as-Information Perspective?

They assist in problem-solving and decision-making. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of physiological changes during emotional experiences?

To prepare the body for action Signup and view all the answers

Which statement captures the essence of the concept of 'Happiness Set Point'?

It represents a stable baseline level of happiness. Signup and view all the answers

What role does fear play in cognitive processes according to the provided information?

It distorts perception and heightens sensitivity to danger. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Concurrent Motives

People can experience multiple pain-related impulses at once (e.g., wanting to relieve back pain while feeling hungry).

Engaging in Pain

People sometimes engage in behaviors that increase pain instead of decreasing it.
Examples include running until legs ache, studying until headaches occur, and professionals enduring pain for higher-valued goals (like war journalists, boxers, and firefighters).
Pain can be seen as necessary for achieving specific goals, reflecting the "no pain, no gain" mentality.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

NSSI refers to self-harming behaviors not intended for suicide.
Common forms include cutting, burning, stabbing, hitting, and excessive rubbing (not for socially sanctioned purposes).
Research and media attention on NSSI has increased, including discussions by celebrities like Angelina Jolie and Demi Lovato, and depictions in movies (e.g., Girl, Interrupted) and TV shows (e.g., Oprah).
Approximately 4% of adults report engaging in NSSI.
Prevalence is higher during adolescence (10-15%).
The median onset age is 14 years, with equal likelihood among males and females.
Over half of individuals with NSSI do not receive treatment, despite available options.

Escape-from-Self Hypothesis

Physical pain can focus attention on the present injury and the associated pain.
This focus can reduce awareness of broader negative feelings like hopelessness or depression.
NSSI may serve to decrease overall psychological suffering by providing a temporary escape from deeper emotional pain.
Even NSSI can be motivated by a desire to alleviate pain, where physical pain overshadows more significant psychological distress.

Avoidance of Pain

Many behaviors are driven by efforts to avoid or reduce painful states.
Remaining neutral to avoid pain could lead to a monotonous life.
Meditation training has been shown to increase positive emotions, fostering a greater perception of social support.
Social media platforms enable connections across vast distances, increasing communication and access to information.

Tangible Support from Relationships

Relationships provide practical assistance, such as borrowing money or seeking advice.
Emotional support can be direct (e.g., friends comforting each other) or indirect, derived from social connections enriching life experiences.

Motivation and Achievement

Individuals may experience a sense of fulfillment when experiencing warmth, comfort, safety, and love.
However, even with these motives satisfied, it may not be entirely fulfilling.
There is a missing aspect: the motivation to create, accomplish, and achieve.
Achievement motivation has a dual aspect: a desire to avoid failing and a desire to succeed.
Achievement-related behavior can emerge from fear of failure or desire for success.
Fear of failure and desire for success are independent of each other.
Individuals motivated by success seek challenges and excel under difficult circumstances.

Performance vs. Mastery Orientation

Performance Orientation: Focuses on performing well to appear smart or avoid failure to appear stupid. This is linked to avoidance motivation and individuals may withdraw effort when faced with negative feedback.
Mastery Orientation: Emphasizes learning and improvement. This is associated with high interest levels, deep engagement with material and an approach motivation. Individuals increase effort and seek to benefit from experiences, despite adversity.

Factors Influencing Orientation

Children develop performance or mastery orientations based on their assumptions about their abilities.
Fixed Mindset: Belief that abilities are static and unlikely to change.

Hierarchy of Motives

Represents the order in which needs become dominant.
Higher-order needs (self-actualization, self-transcendence) are pursued only after lower needs (food, safety) are met.

Self-Actualization

Represents the desire to realize one’s full potential.

Emotion

Defined as the coordinated behaviors, feelings, and physiological changes that occur when a situation becomes relevant to our personal goals.

Behavioral Tendencies Associated with Emotion

Individuals tend to approach emotionally positive stimuli and withdraw from emotionally negative stimuli.
Specific expressions include smiles, frowns, laughs, gapes, and grimaces.
Facial expressions have significant communicative value in psychology.

Evolutionary Perspective on Facial Expressions

Charles Darwin hypothesized facial expressions reflect adaptive patterns from ancestors.
An “anger” face may feature lowered brows, widened eyes, and an open mouth with exposed teeth, mirroring expressions used when biting an opponent.
Congenitally blind individuals express emotions similarly to sighted people, despite not having learned these expressions through imitation.
A study comparing Paralympic athletes (congenitally blind) to sighted Olympic athletes showed both groups exhibited appropriate emotional expressions in response to winning and losing.

Cross-Cultural Evidence of Emotion Interpretation

Paul Ekman's studies show that pictures of emotional expressions are interpreted similarly by individuals from various cultural groups.

Intentional Activities

Account for 40% of happiness variation and are the most controllable factors.
Activities to increase happiness include:
- Cultivating gratitude
- Savoring positive experiences
- Engaging personal strengths
Excessive focus on happiness can lead to disappointment.

Physiological Responses in Emotion

The autonomic nervous system plays a significant role in emotional response.
- Sympathetic Nervous System (Fight or Flight): Increases bodily readiness (e.g., heart rate, pupil dilation).
- Parasympathetic Nervous System (Rest and Digest): Calms the body after a threat has passed.

Current Perspectives in Emotion Research

Affective Neuroscience: Studies neural patterns associated with different emotional states.
Emotions arise from multiple interrelated circuits rather than a single pathway.
Recent studies show differentiation in bodily responses among emotions, though these perceptions can be misleading.

Alexithymia

Represents extreme difficulty identifying and labeling emotions.

Adaptation

Process whereby individuals cease to notice a constant stimulus, enhancing their detection of changes.

Functions of Emotions

Emotions are the coordinated behaviors, feelings, and physiological changes that occur when a situation becomes relevant to our personal goals.
Individuals tend to approach emotionally positive stimuli and withdraw from emotionally negative stimuli.
Facial expressions (smiles, frowns, laughs, grimaces) are critical for communication.
Charles Darwin hypothesized that facial expressions are vestiges of ancestral behaviors that aided survival.

Theories of Emotion

James-Lange Theory: Suggests that specific physiological responses lead to emotional experiences (e.g., seeing a snake causes racing heart and sweating leading to feeling fear).
Cannon-Bard Theory: Proposes a stimulus simultaneously triggers a physiological response and emotional experience (e.g., seeing a snake causes physiological changes and the experience of fear at the same time).
Schachter-Singer Theory: Argues that emotion arises from interpreting bodily responses in the context of situational cues. The perception of physiological changes and contextual understanding influence emotional experience.

Factors Influencing Happiness

Happiness Set Point: Genetically influenced baseline level of happiness, relatively stable over time.
Circumstances: Account for approximately 10% of variations in happiness; adaptation to circumstances plays a significant role.
Intentional Activities: Activities we consciously engage in account for about 40% of the variation in happiness, including:
- Cultivating gratitude
- Savoring positive experiences
- Using personal strengths

Cognitive Functions of Emotions

Affect-as-Information Perspective: Suggests that emotions play a critical role in problem-solving and decision-making. For example, sadness can lead to systematic and careful thinking, while happiness can broaden thinking and creativity.

Effects of Fear on Cognition

Fear directs attention to maximize motivation to avoid negative outcomes.
Studies indicate fear can distort perception leading to heightened sensitivity to dangerous situations.

Functions of Physiological Changes

Physiological responses to emotion prepare the body for action (fight or flight).
Emotions can facilitate memory consolidation of significant events, potentially enhancing survival.

Empathy

Accurately tracking what others are feeling, crucial in social interactions.

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Description

This quiz explores various aspects of pain, including concurrent motives that drive individuals to experience multiple pain-related impulses. It also delves into the phenomenon of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), highlighting its definition, common forms, and societal recognition through media. Test your understanding of these complex psychological behaviors.