Lesson 10: Emotions

Attention

People often ask, “Do we really have control over our own emotions all the time?”  For example, if your partner insists that you go to a dinner party and you realize that you cannot stand some of the guests, are you able to “fake it” and pretend that you are happy to be there or does your facial expression give you away?  Why is it that, upon hearing the death of a loved one, some people become overwhelmed with emotion while others appear stoic or unaffected?  Can you make yourself happy? 

In this lesson, we will learn about some theories of emotional response and explore the physiological and biological approaches in explaining emotion.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

  • Understand the connection between the brain and emotions
  • Explain the fear response and how fear affects behavior and emotional regulation
  • Define Emotional Intelligence
  • Explore definitions of "happiness"

Teaching

In her book, "My Stroke of Insight", which documents her own personal experience having a stroke, Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor explains the role that emotions play in day to day experience very well...

"Sensory information streams in through our sensory systems and is immediately processed through our limbic system. By the time a message reaches our cerebral cortex for higher thinking, we have already placed a "feeling" upon how we view that stimulation -- is this pain or is this pleasure? Although many of us may think of ourselves as thinking creatures that feel, biologically we are feeling creatures that think." (p. 19)

Emotions play an extremely important role in our day to day experiences...how we react to situations, how we control our emotions, and how we experience our emotional world is one of the most colorful and exciting aspects of our existence.

Theories of Emotion

  • James-Lange Theory
    • our brains interpret specific physiological changes as feelings or emotion and that there is a different physiological pattern underlying each emotion
  • Facial-Feedback Theory
    • the sensations for feedback from the movement of your facial muscles and skin are interpreted by your brain as different emotions
  • Cognitive Appraisal Theory
    • your interpretation / appraisal / thought / memory of a situation, object, or sensation can contribute to, or result in, the experience of different emotional states

Functions of Emotions

  • Social signals
  • Survival, Attention, Memory (remember what we said about "false memories" and highly charged emotional situations)
  • Arousal and Motivation

Happiness

So...what makes you happy? What WOULD make you happy?

TED Talks are famous for revealing some of the prevailing perceptions on topics. The TED Talks Playlist for "What makes you happy?" includes titles such as these:

  • The suprising science of happiness
  • Choice, happiness, and spaghetti sauce
  • Happiness and its surprises
  • Flow, the secret to happiness
  • How to buy happiness
  • The paradox of choice
  • Want to be happy? Be grateful.
  • Remember to say Thank You.
  • Less Stuff, More Happiness
  • The habits of happines
  • The riddle of experience vs. memory
  • The hidden power of smiling
  • Happiness in body and soul

For many years the field of psychology has focused on developing a deep understanding of the dysfunctions of the human mind. Troubled minds and mental illness have dominated research in psychology for obvious reasons...people who are "well" do not need to see the "doctor"!

Dr. Martin Seligman, the Director of the University of Pennsylvania Positive Psychology Center, is leading the call to reshape the focus of psychology and include the study of "positive emotions, strength-based character, and healthy institutions" (http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx)

Conference Video on "Applying the Science of Positive Psychology"

International Positive Psychology Association

It is highly recommended that you take our course called "Positive Psychology" after you have completed PSY 101

Fear, what is it, and can I control it?


http://www.doctorhugo.org/paintings/drawings/fear.html

  • Review of article “Can Fear be Forgotten?” and the Atlas of Fear
  • Phobias, such a Arachniphobia, are common…treatment is usually a behavioral one called “Systematic Desensitization”
  • But what if you could obstruct the memory that created the phobia in the first place?
  • When it comes to fear, your thinking part of the brain is subordinate to the Amygdala
  • Amygdala brings up OLD MEMORIES when we are similar situations; however, the brain can be stimulated to
  • produce NEW MEMORIES instead, thus the old memories won't come up.
  • Consider this in terms of Trauma, PTSD, etc.

Emotional Intelligence

Psychologist and journalist Daniel Goleman is the author of "Working With Emotional Intelligence". Goleman believes that I.Q. is not longer as valued as it once was as being an indicator of a person's success. Now it is Emotional Intelligence that has become the new yardstick. Emotional Intelligence refers to areas like self-awareness, empathy and social skills, and it is these qualities that employers are now looking for.

 

Click HERE to view this video directly on YouTube

Assessment

Lesson 10 Discussion A

Based on what you learned about Emotional Intelligence in the video, describe your own personal "emotional intelligence" and how you think this trait has either helped or hindered you.

Lesson 10 Discussion B

People often ask, “Can money really buy happiness?”  While we all need a minimum number of resources to survive, is more always better?  Why or why not? (Please base your responses on what you have learned about emotion as well as your personal experiences).