Topic 12 - Emotions

Conclusions on 2-factor theory

2-factor theory is provocative. It is based on the assumption that our emotions all have a similar physiological base. It is only the cognitive label that differentiates them. Because the same stimulus usually provides the arousal and the label and does so very quickly, that we do not notice the process.

Body's response to fear

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system, a division of the autonomic nervous system. In general, the sympathetic system prepares the body for emergency action. Blood pressure and heart rate increase Respiration becomes more rapid Pupils dilate Blood sugar increases Blood is diverted from organs like the stomach to the brain and skeletal muscles. Parasympathetic nervous system later takes over to restore quiescence

Two-Factor theory of emotion

All emotions consist of physiological arousal and a cognitive label that explains the arousal. Rather than each emotion having a specific arousal pattern (as in James-Lange), the arousal is the same in all emotions. It is the cognitive label that turns the undifferentiated physiological arousal into a specific emotion. I see the dog. I experience general autonomic nervous system arousal Why is my ANS aroused? Forsooth! It must be the oversized beast blocking my path. The Emotion: I'm afraid. The sight of the dog caused my sympathetic system arousal and it also provided the basis for the cognitive label. I experience the emotion as though it were immediate and automatic.

Emotion

An intrapersonal feeling state that occurs in response to either an external or an internal event and typically involves physiological arousal, thoughts and behavior

Predictions for anger condition

Epi Ignorant x angry behavior = anger Placebo x euphoric behavior = neutral Epi Informed x angry behavior = neutral The dependent measures: Self-report ratings of anger on a set of scales Behaviors observed by the experimenter through 1-way mirror Results Epinephrine Ignorant Angry Epinephrine Informed Neutral Placebo Neutral

Summarizing appraisal theory

Appraisal theory Begin with a cognitive appraisal of the stimulus The appraisal leads to an effective experience The appraisal leads to activation of the ANS (sympathetic nervous system). The consequence leads to behavior (running, freezing, yelling in terror) And a recognizable facial response.

Happiness by condition

CONDITION RESULT Epi Ignorant happy Epi Informed neutral Placebo neutral

Predictions from 2-factor theory: happy condition

Epi Ignorant with euphoric behavior = happiness Epi Informed with euphoric behavior = little emotion Placebo with euphoric behavior = little emotion The dependent measures: Self-report ratings of happiness on a set of scales Behaviors observed by the experimenter through 1-way mirror

E = A x C

E = A x C Emotion = Arousal x Cognitive label Multiplicative: if either is set to zero, the experience of emotion does not occur.

Appraisal theory of emotion

Emotion begins with a cognitive appraisal of an event The appraisal leads simultaneously to subjective feeling state physiological response Which then typically lead to: behavioral tendencies facial response

Emotions are not moods

Emotions have a clear cause Emotions are brief Emotions involve more components Emotions have discrete categories Moods are free-floating and diffuse affective states.

Conditions

Epinephrine Ignorant condition: Participants have no idea that Suproxin (epinephrine) would cause them to feel physiologically aroused. 2 Control conditions: Some participants were given real information about the arousal properties of Suproxin (epinephrine-informed) Some were in a no-arousal control condition. Participants were given a placebo. (Suproxin is not epinephrine, only a saline solution.)

Schacter & Singer experiment

Goals: To show that the experience of emotion depends on arousal To show that the experience of emotion requires an appropriate cognitive label To show that different emotional experiences can stem from the same physiological arousal by attaching different cognitive labels.

Fear appraisal

I appraise the danger - So: I experience terror My body responds (via the ANS) My face expresses terror My feet begin to move

Another view: James-Lange theory

James-Lange theory of emotion (1890) William James and Carl Lange held that emotions are the body's responses to particular exciting stimuli or events. Each emotion is characterized by a particular and distinguishable pattern of ANS activity I see Fido Information sent to my brain activates a set of physiological responses And possibly behavioral responses Those responses are the emotion William James: "I did not run because I was afraid; I was afraid because I ran"

Creating anger

Same arousal Epinephrine to stimulate SNS Different label once again inferred by the antics of the confederate and other factors in the social context. Sample questions: "Consider all of the members of your immediate family. Which behavior below is most applicable to each family member. Make sure each item is associated with the best choice of family member: " Does not wash or bathe regularly_____ Seems to need psychiatric care______ "With how many men other than you father has your mother had extramarital relations?" ________4 and under ________ 5 - 9 ________ 10 and over

Arousing sympathetic nervous system

The arousal: (Same for everyone) provided by an injection of epinephrine (synthetic adrenalin). Epinephrine causes increase in the SNS: palpitation, sweaty palms, increased blood pressure, flushed face 2 goals: one is to show that arousal is necessary for the experience of emotion; so, too, is an emotional label Second: that the very same arousal can be experienced differently, depending on the label that is provided.

Experiment: creating happiness and anger

The ostensible purpose of the study was to examine the effects of a vitamin supplement, "suproxin", on vision Participants received an injection of suproxin Must wait for 15-20 minutes while the suproxin takes effect