Emotions and Decision Making

Transcription

1 Emotions and Decision Making LP 8C Emotions and DM 1 We tend to think of emotions interfering with our decisionmaking processes. They do. However, emotions can help us make decisions in ambiguous situations. As described in your textbook (page ), 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. 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.)

2 LP 8C Emotions and DM 2 Emotions and Memory Image Source: Learning and Memory (2008), Gluck, Mercado and Myers

3 LP 8C Emotions and DM 3 Classical Conditioning of Emotions (Chapter 7)

4 LP 8C Emotions and DM 4 Emotional Response and Voluntary Behavior Classical conditioning generally involves involuntary behavior. Operant conditioning involves voluntary behavior. Often, we observe the voluntary behavior. Involuntary Response Fear of snakes Prejudicial attitudes Inappropriate sexual arousal that harms others (paraphilias) Disgust at eating spaghetti that has gone bad (taste aversions) Isn t that so cute! Withdrawal symptoms in response to drug taking cues Reduced immune response Voluntary behavior Avoid zoos Discriminate against others exhibitionism Choose not to eat at Authentic Tony s Italian Meal Deal Buying GEICO insurance Using drugs Avoid hospitals

5 LP 8C Emotions and DM 5 Classical Conditioning, Emotions, Motivation and Behavior Many of the social issues that many of you wrote down involved voluntary behaviors. Classical conditioning involves involuntary behaviors that can occur without our knowledge and tend to be automatic. These involuntary behaviors can include our emotions.

6 The Appeal to Emotions: Fear LP 8C Emotions and DM 6

7 Feelings May Override Thinking LP 8C Emotions and DM 7 Emotions Can Affect Our Ability to Think Critically and Evaluate Information.

8 Emotions and Decision Making Media often fails to distinguish between facts and opinions by Drew Weston, Nov 23, 2004 LP 8C Emotions and DM 8 Question: Should Donald Rumsfeld testify before Congress about his involvement in the Abu Ghraib prison torture scandal? What predicts people s response? Westen gave two groups different quantities of evidence and surveyed their feelings on several topics Quantity of evidence Feelings toward the military Feelings toward Human Rights Groups Feelings toward Republicans Very Little Evidence Feelings toward the military Feelings toward Human Rights Groups Feelings toward Republicans Lots of Evidence Feelings toward the military Feelings toward Human Rights Groups Feelings toward Republicans.84 versus.85

9 LP 8C Emotions and DM 9 We can label behavior based on what feels right

10 LP 8C Emotions and DM 10

11 LP 8C Emotions and DM 11 Intuitive Moralist Our decisions on what is moral and immoral might not be based on any abstract notion of right or wrong, but how we feel about an event. There is a runaway train that is going to hit 5 people. Participants find it acceptable that to pull a lever and redirect the train to another track where it will kill another person (picture a). However, participants also find it unacceptable to push a person into the train, saving the lives of the 5 people (picture b). People essentially responded that the first situation (picture a) feels right where the second situation (picture b) feels wrong.

12 Emotions and Dishonesty LP 8C Emotions and DM 12 Solve as many of 20 math problems in five minutes Shred your work (it really wasn t shredded Report how many math problems solve Receive $1 for each math problem solve The average reported 6, solved, the average solved 4 Solve as many of 20 math problems in five minutes Shred your work (it really wasn t shredded Report how many math problems solve Receive a plastic token for each math problem solved Receive $1 for each plastic token (Some lying) The average reported 8, solved, the average solved 4 (more lying)

13 The Regulation of Emotion LP 8C Emotions and DM 13 Emotions can be disruptive and troublesome. Negative feelings can prevent us from behaving as we would like to, but can so can positive feelings (page 430). Emotional regulation refers to the cognitive and behavioral strategies people use to influence their own emotional experience. These strategies usually involve making negative emotions more positive, but can be to reduce positive emotions.

14 The Regulation of Emotion LP 8C Emotions and DM 14 Behavioral strategies may include avoiding stressful situations, distracting themselves by watching television, or taking drugs Cognitive strategies may include Trying not to think about automobile accident, rent due, etc. If these strategies are successful, they are more likely to be repeated in the future because of they are generally negatively reinforced. Effective strategies for regulating your emotions discussed in your textbook are Humor Distraction Ineffective strategies for regulating your emotions discussed in your textbook are Thought suppression rumination Trying not to thing about your problems tends to make you think about them even more. Rumination likewise, focuses your attention on your problems and prolongs negative emotions. Distractions can be helpful if you need temporary relief from your problems creating negative emotions. However, if you avoid your problems all together and engage in

15 LP 8C Emotions and DM 15 distractions that make your problem worse such as drug use, gambling, watching television too much, you avoid dealing with the cause of your negative emotions.

16 Achievement: Delayed Gratification LP 8C Emotions and DM 16 The ability to delay rewards delay gratification is associated with intelligence and social competence. Fouryear old children who can delay gratification are judged to be more intelligent and socially competent 10 years later and have higher SAT scores when entering college. The ability to delay gratification is a better predictor of a child s grades than IQ is (page 430).