15 Questions
What is the main focus of Positive Psychology according to Seligman & Csikszentmihalyi, 2000?
Subjective experiences and positive individual traits
According to Gable & Haidt, 2006, what does Positive Psychology study?
Conditions and processes contributing to flourishing of people, groups, and institutions
What does Sheldon & King, 2001, consider Positive Psychology to be?
Scientific study of ordinary human strengths and virtues
What are the Quality of Life Indicators proposed by Diener & Suh in 1997?
Choice, values, and subjective experience
What is the primary emphasis of the credibility revolution in research?
Replication, transparency, and avoiding questionable research practices
What is the goal of pre-registration in open science practices?
Specifying the research plan before knowing the outcome, including details of hypothesis, research questions, design, and data analysis
What are the advantages of open code and data analysis in research?
Enabling replication, understanding methods, reducing duplicate efforts, and enabling scrutiny
How does positive psychology differ from popular psychology?
It emphasizes strengths, well-being, and empirical research, distinguishing it from popular psychology
What is the difference between correlational and experimental studies in positive psychology?
Correlational studies focus on associations and correlation coefficients' strength and direction, while experimental studies involve manipulation and control
What is the main focus of the broaden-and-build model of positive emotions?
Enhancing cognitive processes and building resources over time
What does eudaimonia, often described as the 'hedonic approach', primarily emphasize?
Living up to true potential based on virtue and efforts
How is subjective well-being typically assessed?
Through self-reports, corroborated by other methods like peer reports and physiological indicators
Which neurotransmitter system is specifically associated with 'liking' and enjoyment?
Endorphins
What is the role of the Broaden & Build Theory in relation to positive emotions?
It suggests that positive emotions broaden attention 'in the moment' and build resources over time
What is the primary influence of dopamine in the brain, according to the text?
Motivation ('wanting') and pleasure ('liking')
Study Notes
Understanding Positive Emotions and the Neuroscience of Pleasure
- Emotions consist of appraisal, physiological changes, expression, subjective experience, and action tendencies, which can explain individual differences in experiences.
- Physiological changes in emotions involve the peripheral autonomic nervous system and brain activity, which are often elusive and not linked to distinct emotions like joy or anger.
- The brain's dopamine system is associated with "wanting" and motivation, while opioids and cannabinoids are linked to "liking" and enjoyment.
- Expressions, such as facial feedback and facial mimicry, can influence emotional experiences.
- Subjective experiences of emotions rely on self-reports and can be influenced by the choice of emotion terms and the distinction between "online" and recalled experiences.
- Action tendencies motivate individuals to act and are more associated with unpleasant emotions, prompting behaviors such as avoidance.
- The Broaden & Build Theory suggests that positive emotions broaden attention "in the moment" and build resources over time.
- Rat studies have provided insights into pleasure-like behaviors, such as playing and producing ultrasonic laughs, and have linked pleasure to opioids and cannabinoids in the brain.
- Understanding rat pleasure circuits may shed light on human pleasures and contribute to an evolutionary perspective on emotion research.
- Subjective experience measurement in emotion research commonly relies on self-reports and rating scales, such as the PANAS questionnaire, to quantify subjective experiences and define a conceptual space for emotions.
- Non-human animals, like pets, express emotions akin to humans, and rats produce distinctive trill vocalizations associated with pleasure, providing a basis for comparison with human pleasure experiences.
- Neuroscience of pleasure in rats involves the role of dopamine, opioids, and cannabinoids, where dopamine influences motivation ("wanting") but doesn't exclusively define pleasure ("liking").
Test your knowledge of the neuroscience of pleasure and positive emotions with this quiz. Explore the physiological and psychological aspects of joy, pleasure, and motivation, and learn about the role of dopamine, opioids, and cannabinoids in pleasure experiences. Dive into the fascinating world of emotions and gain insights into the subjective experiences of both humans and animals.
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