PSYC21H3 Lecture : PSYC21 - Lecture 5
Document Summary
Emotional expressions are innate and universal, rooted in human evolution, and based on anatomical structures. Each emotion = distinct group of facial muscles. Left cerebral hemisphere = joy, right = fear. Infants of depressed mothers showed less left frontal eeg activation in situations designed to elicit + feelings. Childhood trauma predicts psychiatric impairment but relationship mediated by abnormal left hemisphere eeg activity. Useful for explaining individual differences in emotional expression. Respond positively to baby"s smile, smiles increase. Kids classically conditioned to fear doctors giving painful shot during first visit. Also get fear from operant conditioning, when painful fall from climbing up ladder. Another way to learn fear is by watching others. Purpose of emotions = help people achieve social and survival goals. Emotional signals provide feedback that guides other"s behaviour. Memories of past emotions shape how people respond to new situations.
