PSYC 111 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Autonomic Nervous System, Lev Vygotsky, Human Sexual Response Cycle

• School: Binghamton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 111
• Professor: Deak

Document Summary

Emotion: emotions are positive or negative affective states. Consist of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral reactions to events that have relevance to our goals. Emotions are responses, while motivators are stimuli to action. Negative emotions narrow attention, enabling a response to threat through increased physiological activation. Positive emotions broaden thinking and behavior, enabling exploration and skill learning. They provide observable information about internal states and influence others" behavior toward us. Biological factors: we come equipped to respond to stimuli that may have evolutionary significance. Learning: previous experiences can affect current emotional experiences. The nature of emotions: four common features of emotions. Emotions result from cognitive appraisal of the stimuli. Emotions include behavioral tendencies, including expressive behaviors and instrumental behaviors. Appraisals relate to what we think is desirable or not desirable for us. Different appraisal processes cause different emotional reactions to the same situation. Appraisals influence both similar and different emotional experiences cross-culturally.