EMOTION

DEFINITION: Subjectively experienced positive or negative states of consciousness

Are emotions built-in or learned through culture?

1. Cultures affect the expression or inhibition of emotions

2. The events that instigate emotions depend on one’s culture

EVIDENCE FOR THE UNIVERSALITY OF EMOTION

1. INFANTS

2. ANIMALS

3. FACIAL EXPRESSIONS & FACE MUSCLES

At least 6 common emotions: joy, anger, sadness, surprise, disgust, & fear

MEASURING EMOTION USING MUSCLE MOVEMENTS

Facial EMG

Corrugator Muscle (above eyebrow) is contracted when angry

Zygomatic Muscle (on the cheek) gets moved when we smile

James Laird’s research

JAMES-LANGE THEORY OF EMOTION

Emotion-----> bodily changes Bodily changes-----> emotion

Common sense says, we lose our fortune, are sorry and weep; we meet a bear, are frightened and run; we are insulted by a rival, are angry and strike. The hypothesis here to be defended says that this order of sequence is incorrect. . . the more rational statement is that we feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble

William James (1890)

SCHACHTER’S THEORY OF EMOTION

Emotion = physiological arousal + a cognition (label)

Schachter & Singer (1960’s)

Dutton & Aron--- Field research

Suspension Bridge study…

EXCITATION TRANSFER THEORY (Zillman)

(a derivative of Schachter’s theory)