Understanding Emotions and Motives

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the key difference between motives and emotions?

Motives are typically brief and intense, while emotions are longer-lasting and less intense.

Motives are always accompanied by emotions, while emotions are not always accompanied by motives.

Motives are triggered by internal circumstances, while emotions are triggered by external circumstances. (correct)

Emotions are always directed towards particular objects, while motives are not.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic typically associated with emotions?

They are usually about something or someone.

They are often conceptualized as discrete categories.

They can involve multiple component systems.

They often last for hours or even days. (correct)

According to William Wordsworth, how does poetry relate to emotion?

Poetry is a means of creating new emotions through the recollection of past ones. (correct)

Poetry is an attempt to recreate and purify past emotions.

Poetry is a way to express emotions in a controlled and refined manner.

Poetry is an expression of universal emotions that all humans experience.

What is the primary focus of the text when discussing emotions?

The cognitive processes involved in appraising and interpreting situations. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the most likely reason for the quote "… everyone knows what an emotion is until asked to give a definition. Then, it seems, no one knows…” (Fehr & Russell, 1984) at the beginning of the text?

To highlight the difficulty in defining emotions objectively. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The text suggests that emotions are complex responses. Which of these aspects does the text NOT explicitly mention as a component of emotion?

Social conditioning (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements would the author MOST likely agree with considering the definition of emotion provided in the text?

Emotions are complex responses that involve a combination of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral components. (C) Signup and view all the answers

The text mentions that emotions are often conceptualized as "discrete categories." Which of the following is NOT a typical example of such a "discrete category" of emotion?

Frustration (A) Signup and view all the answers

How do collectivist cultures primarily influence emotional experiences?

By prioritizing interconnectedness and relationships (A) Signup and view all the answers

In individualistic cultures, what aspect of emotions is most significantly affected?

The intensity of emotional expression (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of positive psychology?

Understanding human flourishing and potential (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the Broaden & Build Theory, what is the outcome of positive emotions?

Psychological growth and flourishing (A) Signup and view all the answers

What defines individual uniqueness in individualistic cultures regarding emotions?

Emotional expressions based on personal achievements (B) Signup and view all the answers

How does positive psychology relate to resilience according to the provided content?

It encourages development toward full potential despite adversity. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about emotions and culture is true?

Emotions can reinforce and sustain cultural themes. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the benefits attributed to positive emotions according to research?

They are linked to healthy longevity. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How are cognitive appraisals in emotion processes similar to other types of cognition?

They involve both automatic and controlled processing. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the amygdala in the appraisal process?

It is involved in automatic appraisals, often responding before the cortex. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a function of subjective experience in emotion?

Regulating physiological responses like heart rate and breathing. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main idea behind the statement "Preferences needs no inferences"?

People can experience emotions without understanding why. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the relationship between current feelings and attention?

Current feelings can direct attention to events that match these feelings. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Emotion

Emotion is defined as a complex, multi-component response to changes in how people interpret or appraise their current circumstances.
There's a vital relationship between present and past experience.
Emotions are often described as arising from both internal (motivations) and external (situational) factors, but some distinctions are debatable.
Emotions and moods are frequently contrasted based on duration and specific cause.
Appraisals, or interpretations of the situation, are a central element of emotion. Different interpretations lead to different emotional responses.
Emotions can arise as a result of physical physiological arousal and cognitive interpretations of that arousal.
A two-factor theory of emotions was proposed by Schachter and Singer in 1962 (emotions are the result of a combination of an initial state of unexplained arousal and cognitive explanation).
Misattribution of arousal can occur, where physiological arousal is incorrectly connected to an unrelated event, intensifying the emotional response to that new event.
Cognitive appraisals are important because they differentiate among emotions.
The core relational themes, as well as dimensional aspects, of appraisals are described separately in the lectures.
Cognitive appraisals precede and cause the components of emotions, leading to the subjective experience of the emotion and associated arousal.
Minimalist appraisal theories reduce the number of appraisal dimensions.
Dimensional appraisal theories identify a range of appraisal dimensions relevant to the differences among emotions.
Emotions involve multiple components, including subjective experience, thought-action tendencies, bodily changes, facial expression, responses to emotion, and a person-environment relationship.

Bodily Changes

Intense negative emotions activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to physiological changes (e.g. increased heart rate, respiration).
People's perceptions of their own physiological arousal intensifies emotional responses (visceral perception).
The James-Lange theory suggests that autonomic arousal is responsible for differentiating emotions.
Cannon (1927) critiqued the James-Lange theory, suggesting internal changes occur too slowly to be the primary source of feelings, while also pointing out that artificially inducing bodily changes doesn't always produce an emotion.

Facial Expression

Facial expressions communicate emotions, often evoking similar emotions in others.
Darwin's work on emotional expression highlights the survival value of communicating emotions.
Display rules are culturally determined norms that influence how emotions are expressed.
The facial feedback hypothesis states that facial expressions can directly influence emotional experience.

Cognitive Appraisal

Cognitive appraisals are conscious and unconscious processes.
The amygdala plays a key role in automatic appraisals, supporting the idea that appraisals can occur outside of conscious awareness.
Cognitive appraisals in emotions are similar to other types of cognition.
An emotion is more than just the feeling, it's also a product of a process, where subsequent components unfold and change over time.

Subjective Experiences

Subjective experiences of emotion are within awareness.
Affective states influence personal experience.
Feelings serve as feedback about the personal relevance of current circumstances, guiding behavior.
Current feelings influence attention and learning.
Feelings affect evaluations and judgment of risk.

Thought & Action Tendencies

Thought-action tendencies are the cognitive and behavioral responses spurred by emotions.
Negative emotions typically trigger specific, narrow thought-action tendencies related to survival.
Positive emotions involve broad, more open thought-action tendencies, promoting actions that support ongoing goals and survival.

Emotion Regulation

Emotion regulation involves a person's responses to their own emotions, including efforts to intensify or minimize emotions.
Successful emotion regulation is linked to social success.
Antecedent-focused strategies and response-focused strategies are common ways to regulate emotions, based on when they are implemented.
Strategies to regulate emotions (diversion and engagement) have different effects on various components of the emotional response, cognitive function, and the autonomic nervous system.
Reappraisal, or changing one's perspective, is an effective strategy for regulating emotions.

Emotions, Gender & Culture

Gender and cultural differences may influence emotion in various ways.
The way people's emotions are expressed and when differs across cultures.
Gender and cultural beliefs affect appraisals (expectations and interpretations of events) of emotions and emotional responses and expressions.

Positive Psychology

Positive psychology explores human flourishing and potential, rather than dysfunction.
Studies reveal that positive emotions have diverse positive outcomes, from boosting health to improving cognitive processes like attention.
The broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions links positive emotions to psychological growth, survival, and increased resilience. This theory proposes that positive emotions broaden the scope of people's attention, thought-action patterns, and relationships.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Explore the key concepts of emotions and motives in this quiz. Delve into the characteristics, definitions, and theoretical perspectives on emotions as discussed in the relevant text. Test your understanding of how these concepts are conceptualized and categorized.