Class notes
The link between memory and emotion
- Course
- Institution
Document about the link between memory and emotions, including theories and research.
[Show more]
Seller
Follow
sianvalentine13
Reviews received
Content preview
Memory and EmotionKey Words:
o Emotion = an affective state that is specific to a stimulus and doesn’t last long.
o Mood = a non-specific feeling not necessarily attached to an obvious stimulus and
lasts a long time.
Key Theories:
Cannon and Bard: the brain generates physiological responses and emotions at the
same time, thalamus is the source of emotions. When sympathetic nerves in a cats
brain were cut they still exhibited emotion (especially rage) just without a
physiological reaction.
Catharsis theory – Josef Brewer & Freud (AKA hydraulic theory of emotion): sees
emotion as a substance and a build-up of it causes neurological problems, once all
the negative emotions have been released the individual is cured. Based on German
culture and slang at the time
- predicts memory of emotions will be accurate
- there isn’t much research on emotions apart from anger, but it can be assumed to
be applied.
Cognitive appraisal theory: cognitive appraisals of the environment (surroundings,
intentions, people) are a major cause of emotions, perception and appraisals are
key. Emotions as an output.
Indelibility theory – LeDoux (1989):
Key Studies:
Charles Darwin (1872): the expression of emotions in man and animals, principle of
antithesis, principle of expressive habits = some habits happen due to a build-up in
the nervous system = emotions build up and are discharged later.
William James (1884): emphasised physiology, each type of emotion has its own
physiology, emotions occur as a physiological reaction to events. An event causes a
specific physiological reaction for an emotion which then determines which emotion
you’re feeling.
Schachter & Singer (1962): perceptions of social state help us to perceive which
emotion we are feeling.
Bushman (2002): angered p’s felt angrier if they were asked to punch a punching bag
thinking of who/what made them angry compared to if they were asked to punch it
thinking of getting stronger and fitter = if you express anger, you feel angrier later =
directly contradicts catharsis theory.
Lohr & Adams (2015): catharsis approach = people as pressure cookers and steam is
negative emotions. Alternate view = catharsis becomes a habit due to an observation
that people report feeling better after having vented.
Lazarus (1991): appraisals are the cause of emotions.
Arnold (1945): disagrees with Cannon and Bards theory.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller sianvalentine13. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $9.72. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
Can Stuvia be trusted?
4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)
66579 documents were sold in the last 30 days
Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now