Emotions & Stress (Emotion) Theories of Emotion • James - Lange Theory • Cannon - Bard Theory • Two Factor Theory James Lange Theory • Body response precedes emotion Cannon - Bard Theory • Body response and emotion occur simultaneously Two Factor Theory • Emotion = body response + cognitive interpretation Theories of Emotion (Summary) Cognition and emotion • Robert Zajonc (Zi-yence) – We feel before we think – Emotions can occur without conscious thinking Ingredients of Emotion Measuring Emotions The polygraph • Measures changes in: – Breathing – Heart rate (Cardiovascular activity) – Perspiration • Nonverbal clues – Facial muscles - the most unambiguous clue – Other clues = hand gestures & body language FMRI (Functional MRI) • Specific parts of the brain light up when the person is lying Observational learning of emotions • Monkeys raised in the wild fear snakes • Monkeys raised in the laboratory do not fear snakes – After observing parents and peers fear snakes, younger monkeys developed a fear of snakes Anger • Perception of anger most common when a person’s actions seemed: – Willful – Avoidable – Unjustified How can you handle anger? • 1. Wait (simmer down) • 2. Use a non-accusing statement of feeling (“I” statement) • 3. Avoid “You” statements Happiness • Our general happiness level is largely unchanged by both very positive or very negative events. Does money create happiness? • College students’ attitude toward money Does money buy happiness? What influences our happiness? Adaptation - level phenomenon • Our tendency to judge items (income, grades, sounds, lights) relative to a “neutral” (or accustomed) level based on our prior experience. – E.g. income – temperature – Grades Relative deprivation • We often feel happy or deprived (rich or poor) relative to the people we compare ourselves to. – E.g. “Poor” in the U.S. is not poor in India – E.g. 90% on an exam feels good until you learn everyone else in the class had a score over 95% What predicts happiness? • High self-esteem • Optimism • Having a satisfying marriage or close friends • Being happy in work and leisure • Religious faith • Enough sleep and exercise.