Chapter 10 Suggested Answers
Review 10.1
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Plutchik’s eight primary emotions are fear, anger, joy, disgust, anticipation,
surprise, sadness and acceptance.
Secondary emotions are the result of blending primary emotions. These secondary
emotions are not universal—they can depend on learning and therefore can vary
between cultures and individuals.
The level of intensity of a primary emotion can alter. Therefore, we can
experience one primary emotion at different intensities. For example, rage and
annoyance both involve the primary emotion of anger, just at different levels of
intensity.
Plutchik believes that primary emotions are the same for everyone—they are
universal across all cultures. We are born with the ability to express these primary
emotions. Secondary emotions, however, are not the same for everyone. They
depend on experiences in our life and therefore vary between individuals and
cultures.
The three parts to an emotion are:
subjective experience—what we feel and label as an emotion
expressive behaviour—what others can see about what we are feeling
physiological arousal within our body—changes in heart rate, breathing rate,
sweating, etc. The extent to which these physiological changes occur, such as an
increase in heart rate, is related to the intensity of the emotion. This physiological
arousal is controlled by the autonomic nervous system.
Pick an emotion of your choice; maybe look at Plutchik’s wheel of emotions for
ideas. Now break down the emotion as follows:
how you feel (your subjective experience)
how you behave (what others can see)
how your body reacts (physiological changes, such as increased heart rate).
Review 10.2
Please see p. 130 of the textbook for layout purposes.
Elijah sees the spider.
Factor 1
Elijah’s body starts trembling (physiological arousal).
Factor 2
Elijah perceives this change and thinks about the situation (cognitive arousal). He
realises he is trembling because he thinks the spider is a rare species that is not in his
collection!
Emotion
Elijah feels excited.
Oxford Psychology Year 10
ISBN 978 0 19 556879 0 © Oxford University Press Australia
Review 10.3
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The James-Lange theory proposes that physiological arousal occurs before feeling
the emotion. Bodily changes lead to the emotional experience; in other words, the
physiological changes cause the subjective feeling.
The facial feedback hypothesis predicts that changes in our facial expressions can
produce emotional experiences to match these changes. In other words, smiling
will make us happier, while frowning will make us sadder, and so on. The
physiological changes will cause the subjective feeling and this hypothesis
therefore supports the James-Lange theory of emotion.
The Cannon-Bard theory states that once we become aware of the event, this
information triggers both physiological arousal (trembling) and the subjective
experience (fear) at the same time.
The Cannon-Bard theory states that physiological changes occur at the same time
as feeling the emotion (subjective experience). The facial feedback hypothesis
states that physiological changes (facial expression) occur before experiencing the
feeling.
Cognitive appraisal relates to thinking about the situation and deciding what it
means.
How we appraise a situation (cognitive appraisal) and the reasons for
physiological changes in our body (physiological arousal) leads to our emotional
feeling (subjective experience).
Think of a situation, such as waiting in line at the canteen. Now think of two
different ways you can ‘appraise’ or think about this situation. State how each
thought can lead to a different emotion.
Review 10.4
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An indifference reaction is when a person is quite unmoved or unemotional about
a serious event. The person carries on as if it did not occur. This may occur when
there is damage to the right motor area of the brain.
A catastrophic reaction is when a person has a severely negative emotional
response to a situation. This may occur when there is damage to the left motor
area of the brain.
The hypothalamus plays a central role in experiencing emotions. The
hypothalamus converts emotional messages from the cortex into autonomic and
endocrine responses. This means it controls physiological arousal and hormonal
reactions. The hypothalamus plays a role in causing or preventing aggressive
behaviour.
A number of emotions but mainly strong emotions, such as fear.
Test your understanding
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Oxford Psychology Year 10
ISBN 978 0 19 556879 0 © Oxford University Press Australia
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The three components of an emotion are:
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subjective experience—what we feel and label as an emotion
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expressive behaviour—what others can see about what we are feeling
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physiological arousal within our body—changes in heart rate, breathing
rate, sweating and so on.
Both theories consider physiological arousal and subjective feelings. Both ignore
what a person is thinking and how the person interprets the event (cognitive
appraisal). According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, physiological
arousal occurs before our subjective feelings. This is different from the CannonBard theory, which proposed that physiological arousal and subjective experience
occur at the same time.
The facial feedback hypothesis predicts that changes in our facial expressions can
produce emotional experiences to match these changes. In other words, smiling
will make us happier, while frowning will make us sadder, and so on. The
physiological changes will cause the subjective feeling and this hypothesis
therefore supports the James-Lange theory of emotion.
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Interviewed on a solid bridge (low arousal group)
Factor 1
Few physiological changes (physiological arousal)
Factor 2
Person thinks about the situation (cognitive appraisal) but with little
physiological changes does not take much notice of the survey or the
experimenter
Emotion
Does not feel a strong emotion (and therefore does not contact the experimenter
after the interview)
Interviewed on a solid bridge (high arousal group)
Factor 1
Strong physiological changes (physiological arousal)
Factor 2
Person thinks about the situation (cognitive appraisal) and notes that the
physiological changes are due to the attractive experimenter
Emotion
Does feel a strong emotion of attraction (and therefore contacts the experimenter
after the interview)
11 Primary emotions are ones we are born with and are universal across all cultures;
that is, the same for everyone. Other emotions are a combination or mixing of the
Oxford Psychology Year 10
ISBN 978 0 19 556879 0 © Oxford University Press Australia
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primary emotions and are ones we learn and they are therefore different between
individuals and cultures; that is, not the same for everyone.
a
Sara went for a 5 km run.
Factor 1
Sara experiences strong physiological changes—increased heart rate and
breathing rate (physiological arousal).
Factor 2
Sara thinks about the situation (cognitive appraisal) and notes that the
physiological changes are due to going for a run.
Emotion
Sara feels a strong emotion because she does not think the physiological changes
are due to an emotional event.
b
According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, physiological arousal
occurs before our subjective feelings. However, Sara does not experience an
emotion even though she experiences physiological arousal. The James-Lange
theory does not include cognitive appraisal. It does not account for the fact that
not all physiological arousal leads to an emotion.
Our expectations can lead us to think (appraise) in line with these expectations. If
we expect to like a television show, when we see the show we are more likely to
decide (appraise) that we like it and therefore enjoy it (emotional experience).
a
Right side
b
A catastrophic reaction. Note: This does not mean that a catastrophic
reaction will definitely occur.
a
Saying ee makes us ‘smile’ and this change leads to happy feelings.
Saying oo causes us to put on a sad face and this change makes us sad.
b
The facial feedback hypothesis supports the James-Lange theory of
emotion.
c
You may like to test this on yourself first. You could use a procedure
similar to the one in Investigate 10.3 (p. 129) in the text.
Oxford Psychology Year 10
ISBN 978 0 19 556879 0 © Oxford University Press Australia