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Flashcards in this deck (27)
  • What is an emotion?

    A positive or negative experience that is associated with a particular pattern of physiological activity.

    emotion definition
  • What does the James–Lange theory assert?

    Stimuli trigger activity in the autonomic nervous system, which in turn produces an emotional experience in the brain.

    theories james-lange
  • What does the Cannon–Bard theory assert?

    A stimulus simultaneously triggers activity in the autonomic nervous system and an emotional experience in the brain.

    theories cannon-bard
  • What does the Two-factor theory assert about emotions?

    Emotions are inferences about the causes of physiological arousal.

    theories two-factor
  • What is emotional regulation?

    The use of cognitive and behavioural strategies to influence one's emotional experience.

    emotion regulation
  • What is reappraisal in emotion regulation?

    Changing one's emotional experience by changing the meaning of the emotion-eliciting stimulus.

    regulation reappraisal
  • What is emotional expression?

    Any observable sign of an emotional state.

    emotion expression
  • What is the universality hypothesis?

    The hypothesis that emotional expressions have the same meaning to everyone.

    expression universality
  • What are display rules?

    Norms for the control of emotional expression.

    expression culture
  • What is the hedonic principle?

    The notion that all people are motivated to experience pleasure and avoid pain.

    motivation hedonic
  • What is homeostasis?

    The tendency for a system to keep itself in a particular state.

    physiology homeostasis
  • What is a drive in motivation terms?

    An internal state generated by departures from physiological optimality.

    motivation drive
  • What is bulimia nervosa?

    An eating disorder characterized by the binge eating followed by purging.

    eating-disorders
  • What behavior does bulimia nervosa include?

    Binge eating

    eating-disorders
  • What behavior typically follows binge eating in bulimia nervosa?

    Purging

    eating-disorders
  • What is anorexia nervosa?

    An eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of being fat and severe restriction of food intake.

    eating-disorders
  • Name one core feature of anorexia nervosa.

    An intense fear of being fat

    eating-disorders
  • Name the other core feature of anorexia nervosa.

    Severe restriction of food intake

    eating-disorders
  • What is the human sexual response cycle?

    The stages if physiological arousal during sexual activity.

    sexuality
  • What does the mortality-sense hypothesis predict?

    People who are reminded of their own mortality will work to reinforce their cultural world views.

    motivational-theories
  • What is intrinsic motivation?

    A motivation to take actions that are themselves rewarding.

    motivation
  • What is extrinsic motivation?

    A motivation to take actions that are not themselves rewarding but lead to a reward.

    motivation
  • What is conscious motivation?

    A motivation of which one is aware.

    motivation
  • What is unconscious motivation?

    A motivation of which one is not aware.

    motivation
  • What is the need for achievement?

    The motivation to solve worthwhile problems.

    motivation
  • What is approach motivation?

    A motivation to experience positive outcomes.

    motivation
  • What is avoidance motivation?

    A motivation to not experience negative outcomes.

    motivation
Study Notes

Chapter 8 — Emotion & Motivation

Overview

  • This chapter introduces emotion and motivation: what they are, major theories, how we regulate and express emotions, and key motivational concepts and disorders.

Emotion: core definition

  • Emotion: a positive or negative experience tied to a specific pattern of physiological activity and subjective feeling.

Major theories of emotion

  • James–Lange theory: Stimuli produce physiological changes first; the brain interprets these changes as emotion. Example: seeing a bear → heart races → you feel fear.
  • Cannon–Bard theory: Stimulus triggers physiological response and subjective emotion simultaneously and independently.
  • Two‑factor (Schachter‑Singer) theory: Emotion = physiological arousal + cognitive interpretation of that arousal; we infer emotion from context.

Emotion regulation and reappraisal

  • Emotional regulation: Use of cognitive or behavioral strategies to influence which emotions we have, when we have them, and how we experience or express them.
  • Reappraisal: Changing the meaning of an emotion‑eliciting situation to alter its emotional impact (e.g., framing a speech as a chance to share rather than perform).

Emotional expression and display rules

  • Emotional expression: Observable signs of an emotional state (facial expressions, posture, voice).
  • Display rules: Cultural norms that guide how and when emotions should be expressed.
  • Facial feedback hypothesis: Facial expressions can influence the emotional experience they signify (e.g., smiling can make you feel slightly happier).

Universality hypothesis

  • Universality hypothesis: Basic emotional expressions have the same meaning across cultures; evidence supports common recognition for several basic emotions.

Motivation: core ideas

  • Hedonic principle: People are motivated to seek pleasure and avoid pain.
  • Homeostasis: Tendency of physiological systems to maintain a stable internal state.
  • Drive: Internal state (arising from deviation from optimality) that motivates actions to restore balance.

Types of motivation

  • Intrinsic motivation: Doing an activity because it is inherently rewarding.
  • Extrinsic motivation: Doing an activity to obtain an external reward or avoid punishment.
  • Conscious vs unconscious motivation: Motivations we are aware of versus those operating outside awareness.
  • Need for achievement: A stable motivation to solve meaningful challenges and achieve competence.
  • Approach motivation: Driven toward positive outcomes.
  • Avoidance motivation: Driven to prevent negative outcomes; often stronger and more influential.

Specific topics and disorders

  • Bulimia nervosa: Eating disorder marked by binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (purging).
  • Anorexia nervosa: Eating disorder characterized by intense fear of gaining weight and severe restriction of intake.
  • Human sexual response cycle: Stages of physiological arousal during sexual activity (e.g., excitement, plateau, orgasm, resolution).

Mortality‑salience hypothesis (Terror Management Theory link)

  • Mortality‑salience hypothesis: Reminders of one’s mortality lead people to bolster cultural worldviews and self‑esteem as defensive responses.

Study tips & key comparisons

  • Memorize each theory by its causal order: James–Lange (physiology → emotion), Cannon–Bard (simultaneous), Two‑factor (physiology + appraisal).
  • Distinguish regulation (strategies) from expression (observable signs) and display rules (social norms about expression).
  • Contrast intrinsic vs extrinsic motivation when predicting persistence and quality of performance.

Quick self‑check questions

  1. Give an example that illustrates James–Lange vs Cannon–Bard.
  2. How does reappraisal differ from suppression as a regulation strategy?
  3. Why might avoidance motivation produce stronger behavior than approach motivation?