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Summary Theme 1 Social Psychology Notes
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These are the notes for Theme 1 of the Social Psychology course.
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THEME 1• Arousal = a physical state of arousal/ physiologically activated state.
e.g.: trembling hands, increased heart rate
o influences our emotions;
• Emotions = affective responses characterized by loosely linked changes in behavior, subjective
experience and physiology.
o what we experience on a daily basis in situations which we deem personally relevant.
• Moods = affective responses, but not the same as emotions
Emotions Moods
easier to notice more subtle
last shorter longer lasting
clear target/object they are directed at no clear target/object they are directed at
3 types of change characterize behavior:
1. behavioral aspect
2. experiential aspect
3. physiological aspect
1. Behavioral Aspect
• Charles Darwin Hypothesis: our facial expressions are vestiges of our ancestors’ basic adaptive
patterns.
e.g.: anger - furrowed brows
-widened eyes >>facial movements for biting
-open mouth with exposed teeth
Darwin also theorized our facial expressions are universal (even children born blind portrayed
the same facial expressions despite never seeing them).
Experiments with isolated cultures proved that the meaning of the basic emotional expressions
transcend cultural and geographic boundaries.
BUT, even if perception of emotions is similar, the DISPLAY is not.
'Display rules' = cultural rules that govern the expression of emotion; these displays also vary
across genders and individuals.
2. Experiential Aspect
• Scientists tried to make a 'classification scheme' for emotions (people use words with similar
meanings), and also a scheme that 'describes emotions across dimensions'. Neither describes
what emotions feel like though.
3. Physiological Aspect
Emotions differ in how they "feel", both in the head, and the body.
, THEORIES RELATED TO EMOTIONS AND AROUSAL:
Details/Problems/Counte
Theory What it states Example
r-arguments
A stimulus causes an
Common 'I tremble because I feel afraid.'
emotion, which in
Sense Stimulus>>Experience>>Arousal
turn causes a
Theory bear >> fear >> arousal
physical change.
Character of physical
change is very important.
First you become
-no mention of cognitive
aware of a physical
James- 'I feel afraid because I tremble.' evaluation;
change, then you feel
Lange Stimulus >> Arousal >> Emotion -similar physical
the emotion.
Theory bear >> heart pounds, sweat >> fear reactions to different
(emotion depends on
emotions>>can't
arousal)
distinguish; (both by
Cannon)
Stimulus causes 'The bear makes me tremble and feel afraid.'
brain activity which Stimulus >> Subcortical >> Experience &
Cannon- simultaneously Arousal
Bard Theory causes physical bear>> brain activity >>fear and arousal
changes and the ! emotion and arousal are independent of
emotion itself. each other
!!Problem:
Misattribution = a
Emotions depend on
person misinterprets the
both physical 'I label my trembling as fear because I see the
source of an emotion
reaction and situation as dangerous.'
Schachter- (adrenaline injection
cognitive process Stimulus >> Arousal >> Appraisal >>
Singer experiment, subjects
(one's judgement Experience
Theory didn't know, found that
/comprehension of bear >> phys. change >> scary situation >>
when people are insecure
why the physical fear
about emotional state,
reaction occurs).
interpret it by looking at
others)
'Affective neuroscience' = field that uses cognitive neuroscience research methods to study emotion and
related processes.
Emotions are distinguishable biologically through brain pattern activation.
CAPILANO BRIDGE EXPERIMENT - Dutton and Aron (1974) (tests Misattribution)
Hypothesis: Attractive woman will be seen as more attractive by those who feel a strong emotion (fear)
when encountered, compared to those who don't.
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