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Emotions

The Elements of Emotional Experience

n   Cognitive component

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n   Physiological component

¨ Bodily (autonomic) arousal

n   Behavioral component

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Emotional Expression

n   Emotional states are communicated via

¨ Facial expressions

n 

¨ Body movements can signal emotional arousal

¨ Tone of voice can signal emotion

Arousal and Emotion

Brain Control of Emotion

n   Limbic system is involved in emotional states

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n   Frontal lobes modulate emotions

Theories of Emotion

James-Lange Emotion Theory

n   

Cannon’s arguments against the theory:

 

Cannon-Baird

¨ Thalamus sends signals simultaneously to the cortex and the autonomic nervous system

Schacter's Two-Factor Theory  

n   Schachter and Singer (1962):  cognitive judgments are a critical part of emotional experience:

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Facial Emotion Expression

n  

n   Different facial expressions are associated with different emotions

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n   Facial-feedback hypothesis: expression can alter emotional experience