Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
CHAPTER 12:
Emotion
Emotion
The Physiological Component
The Expressive Component
The Cognitive Component
Human Emotion: Putting the Pieces Together
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Emotion
Three Components of Emotion
Emotion
A feeling
state
characterized
by
physiological
arousal,
expressive
behaviors, and
a cognitive
interpretation.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Physiological Component
A Historical Perspective
James-Lange Theory of Emotion
 Emotion arises from
physiological arousal


Happiness comes from
smiling
Sadness comes from
crying
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Physiological Component
A Historical Perspective
Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion
 Emotion originates in
the thalamus
 “Body” (physiological
systems) and “Mind”
(emotional experience)
are independently
activated at the same
time
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Physiological Component
Brain Centers of Emotion
 Limbic System
 The Amygdala is
highly involved in
fear responses
 Cerebral Cortex
 Left hemisphere
associated with
positive emotions;
right with negative
emotions
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Physiological Component
Generalized Autonomic Arousal
The Autonomic Nervous System
“Fight or
Flight”
Restore
Calm
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Physiological Component
Specific Patterns of Arousal
Polygraph Tests
 Polygraph

Records multiple
channels of
autonomic arousal
and is often used as a
lie-detector test.
 Scientific opinion is
split regarding
whether the polygraph
works.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Expressive Component
Common Email “Emoticons”
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Expressive Component
Nonverbal Communication
How Well do People Identify Emotions?
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Expressive Component
Nonverbal Communication
 Electrodes placed on the
face record activity in
various muscles.
 Positive emotions increase
activity in cheeks.
 Negative emotions
increase activity in
forehead and brow areas.
The Facial EMG
Electromyograph (EMG)
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Expressive Component
Sensory Feedback
 Facial-Feedback Hypothesis




The hypothesis that changes in facial
expression can produce corresponding changes
in emotion
Zajonc, et al. had subjects repeat vowel sounds.
Making some sounds - “ah” and “e” - caused
smiling and elevated mood.
Making other sounds - “u” and “ü” - caused
frowning and lowered mood.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Cognitive Component
Schachter’s Two-Factor Theory of Emotion
 Physiological arousal



Sweaty palms
Increased heart rate
Rapid breathing
 Cognitive Label

Attribute source of arousal
to a cause.
 To have an emotion, both
factors are required.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Cognitive Component
Dimensions of Appraisal
 Cognitive dimensions closely linked to
emotion:




Pleasantness: Is event enjoyable?
Attention: Is one focused on event?
Agency: Does one believe he/she is in control?
Certainty: How clear is situation and is outcome
predictable?
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Cognitive Component
Counterfactual Thinking




Imagining alternative scenarios and
outcomes that might have happened but
did not
Wondering “What if…?”
More likely in response to negative events
More likely when one is close to the other
outcome (e.g., a lottery ticket with 4/5
winning numbers, a silver medalist, etc.)
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Cognitive Component
Is Cognition Necessary?
Pathway of Fear Without “Thought”
 Sensation of threat can
reach the amygdala via
direct path from thalamus
 The fast “low road”
 Sensation of threat also
travels from the thalamus
to the cortex
 The slow “high road”
 Cortical judgment can
override direct path
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
The Cognitive Component
Can People Predict Their Emotional States?
Affective Forecasting
The process by which people predict how
they would feel in the future, after various
positive and negative events
People have difficulty predicting their
emotions in response to future events.
People overestimate the duration of their
emotional reactions (durability bias).

Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Russell's Circumplex Model
 Which emotions are
universal, felt in all cultures?

Fear, anger, joy, disgust,
surprise, and sadness
 Russell identified two main
dimensions of emotion
 Emotions can be sorted
according to these
dimensions in several
cultures
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Dynamics of Emotion
Opponent-Process Theory of Emotion
 Every primary emotional state
triggers its opposite, opponent
state.
 A positive emotional state is
followed by a negative state,
and vice versa.
 Emotional experience is
balanced over time.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Are There Gender Differences in Emotion?
 Little support exists that the sexes differ in
their actual feelings in response to similar
events.
 However, there are differences in the public
display of emotion.

Women are more expressive than men are.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Are There Cultural Differences in Emotion?
 Some aspects of emotion seem universal.
 However, cultures affect the categorization
of emotions and the display rules that govern
when and where emotions can be expressed.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Pleasure and the Pursuit of Happiness
 Three predictive indicators of happiness are:



Social relationships
Employment
Physical health
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Pleasure and the Pursuit of Happiness
National Happiness Ratings
 The happiness scale : very happy (4), quite happy (3), not
very happy (2), or not at all happy (1).
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Pleasure and the Pursuit of Happiness
National Wealth and Happiness
 Over a 40-year period, Americans became over twice as
wealthy, but no happier.
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin
Human Emotion:
Putting the Pieces Together
Pleasure and the Pursuit of Happiness
 Social-Comparison Theory

The theory that people evaluate themselves
by making comparisons with others
 Adaptation-Level Theory

The theory that people evaluate experiences
in relation to current levels to which they
have become accustomed
Psychology, 4/e by Saul Kassin