Theories of Emotion

Summary

This script delves into the complexities of emotions, distinguishing them from feelings and moods. It outlines the physiological, cognitive, and behavioral components of emotions, referencing Charles Darwin's work on universal expressions. The summary also explores various theories, including the common-sense view, James-Lange theory, Cannon-Bard theory, and Schacter-Singer two-factor theory, examining how stimuli, physiological arousal, and cognition interplay to produce emotional experiences.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Emotions, feelings, and moods are distinct: Emotions are immediate responses to stimuli, feelings are the subjective experience of these emotions, and moods are longer-lasting states without a specific trigger.
• 🌟 Emotions have three components: physiological arousal, cognitive experience, and behavioral expressions, which are observable to others.
• 📚 Charles Darwin's work highlighted that similar emotional expressions are shared across members of a species, suggesting a genetic basis for emotional expressions.
• 🤔 The common-sense view posits that a stimulus leads to an emotion, which then causes physiological arousal, but this view has been challenged.
• 🔄 James-Lange Theory suggests that physiological arousal leads to the experience of emotion, but this theory faces criticism due to inconsistencies and exceptions.
• 🏗️ Cannon-Bard Theory proposes that emotional experience and physiological arousal occur independently and simultaneously, without one causing the other.
• 🤓 Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory introduces cognition as a mediator between physiological arousal and the experience of emotion, emphasizing the role of interpretation.
• 🔑 Cognition plays a crucial role in determining the specific emotion felt, as the same physiological arousal can be interpreted differently based on the situation.
• 🔍 Evidence suggests that physiological feedback is not always necessary for emotion, as seen in patients with spinal cord injuries who still experience emotions.
• 🔄 The relationship between physiological arousal and emotion is complex, with some theories suggesting causality and others proposing independence or mediation.
• 🌐 The script explores various theories of emotion, illustrating the ongoing scientific debate and the complexity of understanding emotional responses.

Q & A

What is the difference between emotions, feelings, and moods as described in the script?

Emotions are immediate and specific responses to internal or external events. Feelings are the subjective experience of these emotions, such as saying 'I feel angry.' Moods, on the other hand, are diffuse, longer-lasting emotional states without a clear identifiable trigger.

What are the three components of an emotion as outlined in the script?

The three components of an emotion are physiological, cognitive, and behavioral. Physiological involves bodily arousal, cognitive is the conscious experience of emotion, and behavioral involves expressions that others can observe.

What did Charles Darwin argue about emotional expressions in his 1872 book?

Charles Darwin argued that particular emotional responses tend to accompany the same emotional states in all members of a species, suggesting that the expression of emotion is genetically determined and has evolved over time.

What is the common-sense view of how emotions work?

The common-sense view posits that a stimulus leads to an emotion, which in turn prompts bodily arousal, such as increased heart rate or sweating.

How do the James-Lange theory and the Cannon-Bard theory differ in their explanation of the relationship between emotions and physiological arousal?

The James-Lange theory suggests that bodily arousal causes emotions, while the Cannon-Bard theory proposes that physiological arousal and the experience of emotions are separate processes that occur independently of each other.

What are the criticisms of the James-Lange theory mentioned in the script?

The criticisms include the possibility of physiological arousal without emotion, the slowness of physiological changes compared to the immediate experience of emotion, the association of similar physiological responses with different emotions, and evidence that physiological feedback is not necessary for emotion.

What is the Schacter-Singer two-factor theory, and how does it differ from the other theories mentioned?

The Schacter-Singer two-factor theory introduces cognition as a factor that interprets the source of physiological arousal, suggesting that a stimulus causes arousal and cognition, which then elicits the emotion. This differs from the other theories by adding a cognitive evaluation step between arousal and emotion.

How does the script illustrate the difference in emotional experience based on cognitive evaluation?

The script uses the example of feeling one's face flush, where the same physiological arousal can lead to different emotions based on the cognitive evaluation of the situation, such as pride or shyness.

What are the four theories of emotion mentioned in the script, and how do they differ?

The four theories are the common-sense view, the James-Lange theory, the Cannon-Bard theory, and the Schacter-Singer two-factor theory. They differ in their explanations of the causal relationships between stimuli, physiological arousal, and the experience of emotion.

How does the script suggest that physiological stimuli can influence emotions, despite the Cannon-Bard theory?

The script mentions reports of physiological stimuli influencing emotions, suggesting that while the Cannon-Bard theory proposes independence between physiological arousal and emotion, there is evidence of a connection between the two.

What role does cognition play in the Schacter-Singer two-factor theory?

In the Schacter-Singer two-factor theory, cognition plays a crucial role in interpreting the source of physiological arousal, which then leads to the experience of emotion. It is the cognitive evaluation of the stimulus in conjunction with the arousal that determines the emotional response.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 Understanding Emotions and Their Components

This paragraph delves into the complex nature of emotions, distinguishing them from feelings and moods. It explains that emotions are immediate reactions to stimuli, while feelings are the subjective experience of these emotions, and moods are longer-lasting states without a specific trigger. The paragraph also breaks down the components of emotions into physiological (bodily arousal), cognitive (conscious experience), and behavioral (observable expressions). It references Charles Darwin's work on the universality of emotional expressions across species, suggesting a genetic basis for these behaviors.

05:02

🤔 Theories of Emotion: Causality and Interpretation

This paragraph explores various theories that attempt to explain the process of emotion. It starts with the common-sense view that a stimulus leads to an emotion, which then causes physiological arousal. It then discusses the James-Lange theory, which proposes the reverse causality, suggesting that physiological arousal leads to the experience of emotion. The Cannon-Bard theory posits that emotion and arousal are independent responses to a stimulus. Finally, the Schachter-Singer two-factor theory introduces cognition as a mediator between physiological arousal and the experience of emotion, arguing that the interpretation of arousal in context leads to the emotional response. The paragraph reviews these theories, highlighting their key differences and the aspects they emphasize in the emotion process.

Keywords

💡Emotion

Emotion refers to an immediate, specific positive or negative response to internal thoughts or external environmental events. It is a central theme of the video, which delves into the complexity of emotions in both personal experiences and scientific study. The script uses the example of anger as an immediate emotional response to frustration.

💡Feeling

A feeling is the subjective experience of an emotion, which is how we internally perceive and label our emotional states. In the context of the video, feelings are distinguished from emotions and moods, with the script illustrating this by phrases like 'I feel angry' or 'I feel happy'.

💡Mood

Mood is described as a diffuse, longer-lasting emotional state that does not necessarily have an identifiable object or trigger. The video script contrasts mood with emotions, indicating that a mood can persist for days, such as being in a bad mood after a frustrating event.

💡Physiological Component

The physiological component of an emotion encompasses bodily arousal, such as a racing heart or tense muscles, which are physical manifestations of emotional responses. The video script discusses this in relation to the physiological changes that occur when one experiences anger.

💡Cognitive Component

The cognitive component of an emotion is the subjective conscious experience of the emotion itself. It is how we interpret and understand our emotional states, as highlighted in the video script when discussing the cognitive aspect of emotions.

💡Behavioral Component

The behavioral component involves the characteristic overt expressions of emotions that others can observe, such as facial expressions or posture. The video script references Charles Darwin's work on the expression of emotions, suggesting that these behaviors are genetically determined and universal across species.

💡James-Lange Theory

The James-Lange Theory posits that bodily arousal causes emotions, contradicting the common-sense view. The video script provides a critique of this theory, pointing out its vulnerabilities, such as the possibility of physiological arousal without emotion, and the slow pace of physiological changes compared to the immediate experience of emotion.

💡Cannon-Bard Theory

The Cannon-Bard Theory suggests that the physiological arousal of emotions and the experience of emotions are separate processes, both independently triggered by a stimulus. The video script discusses this theory as an alternative to the James-Lange Theory, emphasizing the potential disconnect between physiological responses and emotional experiences.

💡Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory

The Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory introduces cognition as a key factor in the experience of emotion, alongside physiological arousal. The video script explains that this theory posits that cognition interprets physiological arousal, leading to the experience of an emotion, as demonstrated by the example of different emotional responses to the same physiological arousal based on the cognitive evaluation of the situation.

💡Evolution

Evolution is mentioned in the context of how emotional expressions have evolved and are genetically determined, as per Darwin's argument. The video script suggests that these behaviors have been passed down through generations and are a part of our genetic makeup.

💡Cognitive Evaluation

Cognitive evaluation is the process of interpreting and understanding the stimuli that cause physiological arousal. In the video script, it is a critical part of the Schachter-Singer Two-Factor Theory, where the interpretation of the stimuli in conjunction with arousal leads to the experience of an emotion.

Highlights

Emotions are complex and can be difficult to distinguish from feelings and moods.

Emotions are immediate responses to internal or external events, while feelings are the subjective experience of these emotions.

Moods are diffuse, long-lasting emotional states without a specific trigger.

Emotions consist of physiological, cognitive, and behavioral components.

Physiological arousal includes bodily reactions like a racing heart or tense muscles.

Cognitive components involve the conscious experience of the emotion.

Behavioral components are the outward expressions of emotions, such as facial expressions.

Charles Darwin's work on the expression of emotions in men and animals suggests universal behaviors for specific emotions.

Darwin argued that emotional expressions are genetically determined and have evolved over generations.

The common-sense view posits that a stimulus leads to an emotion, which then causes physiological arousal.

William James and Karl Lang proposed that bodily arousal causes emotions, contradicting the common-sense view.

Criticisms of the James-Lange theory include the possibility of physiological arousal without emotion and the slowness of physiological changes.

The Cannon-Bard theory suggests that physiological arousal and the experience of emotion are independent processes.

Evidence suggests that physiological stimuli can influence emotions, indicating a connection between physiology and emotions.

The Schachter-Singer two-factor theory introduces cognition as a factor influencing the experience of emotion.

According to the Schachter-Singer theory, the interpretation of arousal leads to the experience of a specific emotion.

The theory highlights the importance of cognitive evaluation in determining emotional responses to stimuli.

A review of four major theories of emotion, explaining their differences and implications for understanding emotional experiences.

Transcripts

emotions are a tricky subject both in

life and in psychology questions like

why do you make me feel this way are not

only confusing on a personal level but

also on a scientific level first let's

distinguish emotions from feelings and

moods an emotion is an immediate

specific positive or negative response

to internal thoughts or external

environmental events a feeling is the

subjective experience of an emotion it's

what we refer to when we say things like

I feel angry or I feel happy a mood

meanwhile is a diffuse longer lasting

emotional state that doesn't necessarily

have an identifiable object or trigger

so if something frustrating happens to

you you might immediately feel the

emotional response of anger and for the

next few days you might be in a bad mood

let's move on to the various components

of an emotion so we know that emotions

are immediate and specific responses

these responses have at least three

parts physiological cognitive and

behavioral a physiological component of

an emotion might be bodily arousal like

a racing heart or tense muscles the

cognitive components of an emotion is

the subjective conscious experience of

emotion and the behavioral components of

an emotion is the characteristic overt

expressions of the emotions behaviors

that other people can read like

particular facial expressions or posture

Charles Darwin studied this third

component of emotions in his 1872 book

the expression of emotions in men and

animals in which he argued that

particular emotional responses tend to

accompany the same emotional states in

all members of the species so according

to Darwin's argument all of the members

of the species will display the same

behavior when they feel a particular

emotion all cats will display the same

behavior when they are happy and all

humans will have the same facial

expressions in behavioral and skin

[Applause]

with this evidence Darwin suggested that

the expression of emotion is genetically

determined this behavior has evolved and

has been passed down through generations

in our genes now let's look at some

theories of how emotions work let's

start with the common-sense view in this

view a stimulus and emotion which in

turn prompts some bodily arousal so in

this case a frightening spectacle and

Bill's are ruling with fear which makes

him sweat and makes his heart rate rise

in the mid-1880s two scholars William

James and Karl Lang independently came

up with similar theories that

contradicted this common-sense view

James and Lang both suggested that

instead of emotions causing bodily

arousal bodily arousal causes emotions

so to return to our previous example

that would mean that the site of the

hero on his threshold makes our villains

heart beat faster his hands tremble and

his palms sweat and these physiological

changes caused him to feel fear but this

theory is vulnerable to a few criticisms

first it is possible to have

physiological arousal without any

accompanied emotion for instance your

palms might sweat because it's hot but

that's what won't make you feel all

nervous just kind of grow second

physiological changes can be too slow to

proceed the conscious experience of

emotion our villain might feel scared as

soon as he sees our hero but it might

take a few seconds for him to start

sweating third the same set of

physiological responses are associated

with very different emotional

experiences a faster heart rate could

mean fear but it could also mean anger

or surprise or joy finally there is

evidence that physiological feedback is

not necessary for emotion for example

patients with spinal cord injuries who

have lost most of their physiological

feedback so experience the same emotions

as before

however in the james-lange theories

favor there is notably some slight

evidence of dissipation in their

emotional reactions as an alternative to

the james-lange theory two other

theorists Walter Kenan and

Philip Bard proposed that the

physiological arousal of emotions and

the experience of emotions are entirely

separate processes that is a stimulus

causes the emotion and physiological

arousal independently neither one causes

the other

so the site of our hero causes our

villain both to feel fear and for his

palms to sweat and hurt to raise but

contrary to this theory there has been

many reports of physiological stimuli

influencing emotions so it's unlikely

that physiology and emotions are

completely disconnected one suggestion

of how arousal and the experience of

emotion may be connected but not causal

which proposed in the 1960s by Stanley

Schachter and Jerome singer as the

Schechter singer two-factor theory which

introduces the factor of cognition the

theory suggests that when a stimulus

elicits some arousal this arousal elicit

some cognition which interprets the

source of the arousal and then this

interpretation then elicits the

experience of emotion

from the stimulus it takes two different

factors the arousal and the cognition to

elicit the emotion hence the name

Schechter singer two-factor theory for

example say that you feel your face

start to flush according to this theory

you'll automatically use cues from your

environment to help explain this flush

you might be mid-workout or someone

might have just confessed their love to

you although the arousal is the same the

cognitive evaluation of the stimulus is

very different across these two

scenarios and so the emotions you would

feel would also be very different say

pride versus shyness for instance

to return to our previous example if the

sight of our hero makes our bones heart

beat faster then their cognitive

evaluation of the situation say

remembering that the hero is a Secret

Service agent here to save the world or

that he is their long-lost love from

primary school will determine their

emotional response to the situation

again with this theory it's about the

interpretation of the stimuli in the

arousal which leads to the emotion so

let's just quickly review these four

theories of emotion top you remember

them first the common sense view is that

a stimulus will cause an emotion which

causes arousal second the james-lange

theory reverses emotion and arousal

suggesting instead that a stimulus

causes arousal which then causes the

motion third the Canon Bard theory

separates out emotion and arousal as

independent reactions to the stimulus

and finally the Schechter singer

two-factor theory adds another factor to

the cause of emotion after a stimulus

elicits some arousal you called the

nobley ESS the stimulus and that

assessment causes the emotion