Emotions, Stress
and Health
PowerPoint®
Presentation
by Jim Foley
© 2013 Worth Publishers
Module 37:
Experienced Emotion
Is Experienced Emotion as
Universal as Expressed Emotion?
Carroll Izzard
suggested that
there are ten
basic emotions:
those evident at
birth (seen here)
plus contempt,
shame, and
guilt.
Two Dimensions of Emotion
We experience this
image in dimensions
of up/down and
left/right.
James Russell sees our
emotional experience
in two dimensions:
1. from pleasant to
unpleasant
2. from low to high
arousal.
Closer Look at a Particular Emotion: Anger
 The catharsis myth
 A flash of anger gives us energy
refers to the idea that
and initiative to fight or otherwise
we can reduce anger by
take action when necessary.
“releasing” it, and we
 Persistent anger can cause more
do this by acting
harm than whatever we’re angry
aggressively (yelling,
about.
punching a pillow).
 Some ways to keep anger from
persisting: distraction, constructive  In most cases,
expressing anger
action, problem-solving, exercise,
worsens it, and any
verbal expression, and allowing
“release” reinforces the
others to be wrong.
aggression, making it a
conditioned habit.
 Sometimes, releasing
anger causes harm, and
results in guilt.
 Instead, try calming
down and moving on.
Closer Look at a Particular Emotion: Happiness
Happiness is:
 a mood.
 an attitude.
 a social phenomenon.
 a cognitive filter.
 a way to stay hopeful,
motivated, and connected to
others.
The feel-good, do-good
phenomenon: when in a good
mood, we do more for others.
The reverse is also true: doing
good feels good.
Over the Course of a Week
Happiness
has its ups
and downs.
Levels of
happiness, as
well as other
emotions, can
vary over the
course of a week
(we like the
weekend), and
even over the
course of a day
(don’t stay awake
too long!).
Over the Course of a Day
Wealth and Well-Being:
A Change in Goals
 In the late 1960s, students entering college had a primary
goal of developing a meaningful life philosophy.
 Since 1977, being very well-off financially has become
more of a primary goal for first year students.
Can Money Buy Happiness?
Money seems to buy
happiness when it lifts
people out of extreme
poverty. Otherwise, money
doesn’t seem to help our
mood much.
1. The average level of
income (adjusted for
inflation) and
purchasing power has
increased in the United
States.
2. The percentage of
people feeling very
happy, though, has not
followed the same
trend of improvement.
Adaptation-Level Phenomenon
 When we step into the sunshine, it seems very bright at
first. Then our senses adapt and we develop a “new
normal.” If a cloud covers the sun, it may seem “dark” in
comparison.
 The “very bright” sensation is temporary.
 The adaptation-level phenomenon: when our wealth or
other life conditions improve, we are happier compared to
our past condition.
 However, then we adapt, form a “new normal” level, and
most people must get another boost to feel the same
satisfaction.
Adapting Attitudes
Instead of Circumstances
 Because of the adaptation-level phenomenon, our level of
contentment does not permanently stay higher when we gain
income and wealth; we keep adjusting our expectations.
 It is also true that misfortune, disability, and loss do not
result in a permanent decrease in happiness.
 In both cases, humans tend to adapt.
After receiving exciting news about the birth
of a healthy grandson, Mr. Haney was easily
persuaded to contribute a generous sum of
money to a neighborhood church. This best
illustrates the:
A.
B.
C.
D.
two-factor theory.
feel-good, do-good phenomenon.
James-Lange theory.
relative deprivation principle.
After the excitement of her
promotion wore off, Karen started to
dream about her next promotion
and raise. This illustrates:
A.
B.
C.
D.
the Cannon-Bard principle.
the adaptation-level phenomenon.
the feel-good, do-good phenomenon.
Stanley Schacter and Jerome Singer’s theory.
Relative Deprivation
 If the average income has risen by
10 percent in your area, it might be
hard to feel great about a 5 percent
rise in your income because of
 People who were satisfied with their
own lives might become less
satisfied if other people get more
power, recognition, and income.
 We can affect our happiness by
choosing the people to whom we
compare ourselves.
 However, the tendency is to
compare ourselves to people who
are more successful.
relative
deprivation:
feeling
worse off by
comparing
yourself to
people who
are doing
better.
Correlates of Happiness
There are behaviors that seem to go with
happiness. Whether they are the cause or the
effect of happiness is not clear, but it can’t
hurt to try them.
Researchers have found that happy people
tend to:
However, happiness seems not much
related to other factors, such as:
 Have high self-esteem (in individualistic
countries)
 Be optimistic, outgoing, and agreeable
 Have close friendships or a satisfying
marriage
 Have work and leisure that engage their
skills
 Have an active religious faith
 Sleep well and exercise
 Age (example: the woman at the
laptop in the picture)
 Gender (women are more often
depressed, but also more often
joyful)
 Parenthood (having children or
not)
 Physical attractiveness
There also may be a genetic basis for a predisposition to happiness.
Whether because of genes, culture, or personal history, we each
seem to develop a mood “set point,” a level of happiness to which we
keep returning.
Possible Ways to
Increase Your Chances
at Happiness
 Look beyond wealth for satisfaction.
 Bring your habits in line with your goals; take control
of your time.
 Smile and act happy.
 Find work and leisure that engages your skills.
 Exercise, or just move!
 Focus on the needs and wishes of others.
 Work, rest, …and SLEEP.
 Notice what goes well, and express gratitude.
 Nurture spirituality, meaning, and community.
 Make your close relationships a priority.