Download Theories & Physiology of Emotions and more Slides Social Psychology of Emotion in PDF only on Docsity! Theories and Physiology of Emotion Module 29 Emotions, Stress, and Health Theories of Emotion Embodied Emotion Emotions and The Autonomic Nervous System Physiological Similarities Among Specific Emotions Physiological Differences Among Specific Emotions Cognition And Emotion Controversy 1) Does physiological arousal precede or follow your emotional experience? 2) Does cognition (thinking) precede emotion (feeling)? Commonsense View When you become happy, your heart starts beating faster. First comes conscious awareness, then comes physiological activity. B o b S ach a James-Lange Theory William James and Carl Lange proposed an idea that was diametrically opposed to the common-sense view. The James-Lange Theory proposes that physiological activity precedes the emotional experience. Embodied Emotion We know that emotions involve bodily responses. Some of these responses are very noticeable (butterflies in our stomach when fear arises), but others are more difficult to discern (neurons activated in the brain). Emotions and the Autonomic Nervous System During an emotional experience, our autonomic nervous system mobilizes energy in the body that arouses us. Arousal and Performance Arousal in short spurts is adaptive. We perform better under moderate arousal, but optimal performance varies with task difficulty. Cognition and Emotion What is the connection between how we think (cognition) and how we feel (emotion)? Can we change our emotions by changing our thinking? Cognition Can Define Emotion An arousal response to one event spills over into our response to the next event. Arousal from a soccer match can fuel anger, which may lead to rioting. A P P h o to / N ati H arn ik R eu ters/ C o rb is Cognition Does Not Always Precede Emotion A subliminally presented happy face can encourage subjects to drink more than when presented with an angry face (Berridge & Winkeilman, 2003). Emotions are felt directly through the amygdala (a) or through the cortex (b) for analysis.
