Emotions. These aspects are generally stronger in emotional responses than with moods. The duration of emotions tend to be shorter than moods.

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1 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 1 Emotions An emotion is a complex psychological state that involves subjective experience, physiological response, and behavioral or expressive responses. These aspects are generally stronger in emotional responses than with moods. The duration of emotions tend to be shorter than moods.

2 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 2 Emotions are described as a positive or negative valence (feeling) (x-axis) that is associated with a particular pattern of arousal physiological activation or increased autonomic response (y-axis). Negative activation states are generally associated with increases in norepinepherine (p. 405). Positive activation are generally associated with increased levels of dopamine (p. 405).

3 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 3 Basic Emotional Expressions There tend to be several basic emotions. The exact number is debated. Your book considers six, maybe seven basic emotions (contempt for the 7 th ) (page 313). Other emotions are learned and some combination of the basic emotions. It is believed that emotions motivate us toward an action (eating, sex, creativity, etc.), and/or a basic way to communicate internal states and feelings without language (I m afraid, I m happy, etc).

4 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 4 Basic Emotional Expressions Identify the basic emotions that are being expressed:

5 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 5 Basic Emotional Expressions Emotional Expression is an observable sign of an emotional state. It appears that there is generally some universality of emotional expressions. People who are born blind, have quite similar emotional expressions for the basic emotions People are quite accurate at judging the emotional expressions of others, even across cultures.

6 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 6 Emotions can be inferred from the way we talk (intonation, inflection, loudness and duration), gaze, gait, posture and a person s touch and most importantly, facial expressions. We have 43 muscles that are capable of creating more than 10,000 unique configurations.

7 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 7 Basic Emotional Expressions Facial displays of happiness (joy), anger, surprise, disgust, sadness and fear appear to be universal across cultures.

8 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 8 Display Rules Display rules are the norms for the control of emotional expression. Men and women tend to have similar experiences of emotions, however, there are cultural display rules of emotional expression. In one study comparing Japanese and American students, they watched an unpleasant film of car accidents and amputations. o When students did not know that the experimenters were observing them, Japanese and American students had similar emotional expressions of disgust. o However, when they realized they were being observed, Japanese students did not display disgust. In many Asian societies, there is a strong cultural norm against displaying negative emotions in the presence of a respected person. The fact that different cultures have different display rules may help explain why people are better are recognizing facial expressions from people within their own culture (page 383)

9 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 9 Display Rules In another study of differences in display rules of emotional expression, men and women watched an emotional film. o When men and women were aware that they were being observed, both men and women had similar physiological response, but the women tended to be more emotionally expressive o When men and women were unaware that they were being observed, both men and women had similar physiological responses AND both had similar emotional expressions. In American culture, men are not suppose to show emotions.

10 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 10 The Emotional Brain The limbic system is involved with a variety of emotions. When electrodes were placed in the brain of a rat, stimulation of the limbic system was associated with pleasure. Patients with damage to the amygdala were able to recognize facial expressions of happiness, sadness and surprise like those without damage to the amygdale. However, recognition of anger, disgust and fear was impaired.

11 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 11 The primary job of the amygdala is to evaluate the emotional relevant aspects of a stimulus such as fear and alarm (see description of the monkeys where the amygdala was inhibited or not).

12 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 12 Emotions and Decision Making We tend to think of emotions interfering with our decision-making processes. They do. However, emotions can help us make decisions in ambiguous situations. Elliot had a brain tumor (left picture for a similar patient) removed, but he was no longer able to experience emotions. Unlike the Vulcan Spock, emotions can help us avoid bad decisions.

13 LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 13 Elliot appeared did not express sadness, impatience or frustration, nor any emotional expression from disturbing images injured bodies. He made many bad decisions because he couldn t feel any negative emotions that made him avoid bad situations (bad gambling decisions, bad business decisions, the effect his behavior had on others, etc.)

14 The Emotional Brain: Experience of Fear LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 14 We can have two simultaneous emotional reactions to an event that travel different pathways in the brain. The route through the cerebral cortex may be more conscious, deliberate and slower. The pathway directly to the amygdala may be less conscious, automatic and faster.

15 The Emotional Brain: Experience of Fear LP 8D emotions & James/Lange 15 There are two routes to fear Sensory input Thalamus, Cortex (appraises the visual stimulus), Amygdala (19 ms) Sensory input Thalamus, Amygdala (12 ms) This pathway is slower, but provides more accurate details about the stimulus (think hi-res images) This pathway is fast, but provides little detail about the stimulus (think lo-res images)