Introduction to Psychology
Lecture 15: Emotions and Motivation
March 11, 2024
Yelena Sardaryan, MA, MPH
Emotional Regulation
Definitions
Affect - The experience of feeling or emotion.
An emotion is a mental and physiological feeling state that directs
our attention and guides our behavior.
Emotions normally serve an adaptive role: yet, they can be
negative and positive.
Motivation is a driving force that initiates and directs behavior.
What are the roles of emotions?
• Motivate us for action - Emotions save time in getting us to act in
important situations, prepare us for action
• Emotions Communicate to (and Influence) Others
Experience of
emotion
Basic emotions,
are those of anger,
disgust, fear,
happiness,
sadness, and
surprise.
Theories of Emotion - Cannon-Bard Theory
Event Arousal and Physiological Changes AND Emotion
Bodily arousal and the experience of emotion arise at the same time,
and neither causes the other Arousal is arousal… our bodies are
aroused similarly in different arousing situations (ex: being mugged
and winning the lottery)
Theories of Emotion - James-Lange Theory-2
Event Arousal and Physiological Changes Interpretation of
Physiological Changes Emotion Different emotions arise from
different sets of bodily reactions.
Some emotions (ex: anger) are accompanied by particular patterns of
heart rate, body temperature, sweating, etc.
• Bodily changes may contribute to emotion (ex: changes in the
muscles of your face may play a role in how your feel!)
• Facial feedback hypothesis: the idea that emotions arise partly as
a result of the positioning of facial muscles
• “putting on a happy face” makes you feel happier
Theories of Emotion - Cognitive Theory 3
Event Arousal and Physiological Changes Interpretation as a
Function of Context Emotion
Emotion arises when you interpret the situation (i.e.: your bodily state
in the context of everything that surrounds it).
You interpret your reactions and the general situation together – and
this interpretation forms the basis of emotions
Model for Describing Emotions
Communicating Emotion
Nonverbal communication, that is, communication that does not
involve words.
There is no universal nonverbal language.
The most important communicator of emotion is the face.
Emotion Regulation
Emotional Regulation is the ability to successfully control our
emotions.
To override the impulse to seek immediate gratification to obtain
a greater reward at a later time.
[Link]
Positive Emotions
Optimism, a general tendency to expect positive outcomes, finding that
optimists are happier and have less stress.
Self-efficacy, the belief in our ability to carry out actions that produce
desired outcomes.
People who report that they have positive social relationships with
others—the perception of social support
Maslow’s Hierarchy
of Needs
• The order of the levels is
not completely fixed.
• Our behaviours are usually
motivated by multiple
needs simultaneously.
Practice:
•
Emotions and words:
Other Important Emotion Words
Weariness, dissatisfaction, disinclination.
Distress.
Shyness, fragility, reserve, bashfulness, coyness, reticence.
Cautiousness, reluctance, suspiciousness, caginess, wariness.
Surprise, amazement, astonishment, awe, startle, wonder.
Boldness, bravery, courage, determination.
Powerfulness, a sense of competence, capability, mastery.
Dubiousness, skepticism, doubtfulness.
Apathy, boredom, dullness, ennui, fidgetiness, impatience,
indifference, listlessness