Approaches to Emotions: Philosophical and Evolutionary PDF

Approaches to Emotions: Philosophical and Evolutionary Class 2  Review Question 1 Which of the following finally opened the door to the scientific study of mental states (and overcame Behaviorism)? ___ Mesmerism ___ Behaviorism X Roger Sheppard “mental rotation” studi...

Approaches to Emotions: Philosophical and Evolutionary Class 2  Review Question 1 Which of the following finally opened the door to the scientific study of mental states (and overcame Behaviorism)? ___ Mesmerism ___ Behaviorism X Roger Sheppard “mental rotation” studies ___ ___ Freud’s psychosexual theory ___ None of the above  Review Question 2 Robert Zajonc used Chinese ideograms, such as this one, in his “mere exposure” studies to show that ___ Humans do not have minds ___ We can emotionally remember familiar things ___ Faces on Japanese crabs demonstrate natural selection ___ Facial expressions of emotions are vestigial ___ All of the above Emotions: Helpful or Harmful?  Philosophers of Emotion: Aristotle, Descartes, Spinoza, and Jefferson Aristotle (384-322 BCE) * Emotions connected to action * Emotions follow beliefs but also can shape beliefs * Emotions tied to narrative, to stories and drama * Function of tragic theater is Katharsis—clarity gained by emotional identification with others.  How Stories Evoke Emotions Facts About Bill Bill’s Bad Day 1. Said “Hey, get outta here!” Bill, a kindly social worker, left 2. Ordered pepperoni pizza his house and went for lunch at 3. Wedding next day Tommy’s Pizza. He joked with 4. Left house Tommy and ordered a 5. Got shot pepperoni pizza. Suddenly a 6. Jokes with Tommy robber barged in. Bill shouted 7. Robber barges in “Hey, get outta here!” He got 8. Goes to Tommy’s Pizza shot. His wedding was the next 9. Kindly social worker day.  Descartes (1596-1650) * Mind and body not tied, but separate. Body a machine. * Emotions occur not in body but in “soul” * Emotions tell us how events affect our thinking selves. * Emotions shaped by the way we appraise events. Dunkirk Movie: Soldier returns from near disaster, receives snack from blind volunteer—but doesn’t know the man is blind. Soldier tells friend “Our people are ashamed of us. Won’t even look us in the eye”. Appraisal (interpretation of blind man) affected emotion (shame).  Spinoza (1632-1677) * Active emotions —come from loving the world as it is. * Passive emotions —bitterness, envy—come from rejecting perfection of universe. * People aware of desires, but ignorant of causes of desires (Freud?) * Emotions stem from how we appraise the world [DUNKIRK!] Emotions cloud understanding; need to understand emotions to be free of them.  Thomas Jefferson: My Head and My Heart Vita 1743- July 4, 1826 Drafted Declaration of Independence Secty. of State (1789-1794) Vice President (1797-1801) John F. Kennedy Welcoming Nobel Prize Winners at the White House: President (1801-1809) This is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered Hobbies: Inventor, architect, farmer together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined here alone. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  Jefferson "My Head and My Heart" Background: Jefferson had affair with Maria Cosway. Artist, composer, musician, founded girls' school. Letter is "love letter" upon their separation. Maintained correspondence for remainder of Jefferson's life. Letter written as internal dialogue between Jefferson's head "reason" and heart "emotions" about the pain of separation. Jefferson had recently broken wrist, wrote letter with left hand, thus references to "hurt wrist." Jefferson never married.  Heart Head Agree? What the Head tells the Heart While suffering the costs of your follies you, you may perhaps learn from them. Y or N I told you, you were impudently engaging your affections", "I warned you about separation pain, that there was NO FUTURE, and what chance is there she'll Y or N come to America? Nearly none. “Be Realistic. Focus on objective facts.” "You must learn to look forward before you take a step which may interest our peace.“ Y or N "Everything in this world is a matter of calculation. "Do not bite the bait of pleasure..." Y or N "The art of life is the art of avoiding pain."  Heart Head WHAT THE HEART SAYS TO THE HEAD Agree? Bloodless philosophers confuse supreme wisdom with supreme folly: they mistake for happiness the mere absence of pain. Y or N Respect for myself now obliges me to set you straight. To you [nature] allotted the field of science, to me that of morals. Morals were too essential to the happiness of man to be risked on the uncertain combinations of the head. Y or N EXAMPLES: Wounded soldier asking for ride, poor woman Y or N asking for charity. America's bid for independence from Britain: I do not know that I ever did a good thing on your (head's) suggestion, or a dirty one without it.  Early Thinkers’ Scorecard on Emotions Philosopher / Emotions Thinking  Emotions  Theorist Helpful or Emotions Thinking Harmful Aristotle Helpful YES YES Descartes Helpful YES NO Spinoza Harmful YES NO Jefferson Helpful Unclear YES  Basic Emotions: Whattya Think? Do you think there are basic emotions, from which all other emotions arise? Sort of like the three primary colors. Take a moment and write down what you would list as the basic, fundamental emotions.  The Basic Emotions Happiness Anger Sadness Fear Disgust Surprise (maybe)  Russell’s Circumplex Model of Emotion AROUSED Angry Happy UNPLEASANT PLEASANT Calm Depressed UNAROUSED  Are Emotions Universal? Do all cultures experience the same emotions? Do all cultures express basic emotions the same way? Do cultures differ in how intensely they show emotion, for the same kinds of events? If emotions are genetically determined, does culture play any role in shaping them? NOTE: Whether there are “basic emotions” is relevant to this question.  Ekman’s Neurocultural Theory of Emotion Paul Ekman I. Facial expression for each emotion is set by evolution. II. Culture affects emotion in three ways: 1. Determines what kinds of events cause us to experience emotions. 2. Sets norms for expressing emotion—Display rules 3. Says how to act on emotions.  Ekman’s Basic Emotions Fear Disgust Sad Anger Happiness Surprise  Judgment of Emotion by Observers in Five Literate Cultures (Ekman & Friesen, 1971) Japan Brazil Chile Argen. USA Happiness 87 97 90 94 97 Fear 71 77 78 68 88 Surprise Percent Agreement 87 82 88 93 91 Anger 63 82 76 72 69 Disgust/ 82 86 85 79 82 Contempt Sadness 74 82 90 85 73 No. of 29 40 119 168 99 Subjects  Critique of Ekman's "Literate Cultures" Study 1. All literate cultures share common literature, TV, radio 2. Cultures could influence each others. 50 years ago: French would never eat Big Macs Americans would never eat raw fish Michiganders would not eat "Tah-kohz“ 3. How is cultural influence a problem in terms of emotion recognition as evidence that emotions are universal? Literate, modern cultures could inform each other about emotional expression. True difference would be hidden.  Ekman’s Pre-Literate Culture Studies Literate cultures share books, movies, therefore get common understanding of emotions. Solution?Study a pre-literate culture. South Fore People of New Guinea Ekman Study 1 (1967): Ask S. Fore to Identify Emotions Results a mess. No evidence that S. Fore label these faces according to basic emotions. Are there no basic emotions? Or was the study done wrong?  Ekman Study 2 (1968): Hear A Story and Pick Correct Emotion A wild boar is standing outside her hut. What emotion does she feel? A B C Now S. Fore perform as well as Americans Using a story to evoke emotions is related to which philosopher? X Aristotle ____ Descartes ____ Spinoza ____ Jefferson ____ Ekman Study 3: Hear A Story and Make Appropriate Facial Expression South Fore man asked to make expression for story: “Mom cooked roadkill for dinner” S. Fore respond comparably to Americans What Emotion? Other Clues to Universal Nature of Emotions What are other sources of "data" that people show same emotions across cultures? That emotions are "born", not "taught", and are the same everywhere? 1. Infant studies (more on this in later classes) 2. Blind/deaf: a. Same facial expressions b. Same postures 3. Primate studies Primate Studies and Emotions as Inherited Jane Goodall’s Chimp Observations Chimp society based on aggression and sex and status. What other animal does that sound like? Primate Studies and Emotions as Inherited Jane Goodall’s Chimp Observations Aggression relates to social hierarchies Males fight every 3 days; females every 5 days Aggression in chimps linked to serotonin levels. Same for humans Serotonin promotes aggression, assertiveness, social confidence. Serotonin is key component of Prozac (anti-depressant) Beta chimp given serotonin  becomes new alpha Alpha chimp given serotonin inhibitor  becomes beta Chimps appear to be emotional—and share same basic emotions as humans. Jane Goodall: “Emotional states of chimps are so obviously similar to ours that even an inexperienced observer can interpret the behavior”. WHY DO WE THINK THESE ANIMALS HAVE EMOTIONS? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw