PSYCH 454 Lecture Notes - Lecture 23: Peristalsis, Social Emotions, Brainstem
24 May 2018
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Lecture 23: Emotion
Definition of Emotions and Feelings
●Emotional behaviors and associated feelings can be considered distinct
○Usually occur in functional sequence ie, behavior closely followed by associated
feeling
○Although the terms are used interchangeably, we will use the definitions
below…
●Emotions: behavioral patterns triggered by emotion-inducing external or internal stimuli
○May include…
■Changes in skeletal and smooth muscle
● leads to changes in facial expression, running away from threat,
posture, heart rate, gut motility
■Changes in internal biochemistry
●release of chemicals into the blood circulation (hormones)
○Range of motions: fear, disgust, anger, sadness joy etc
○Complex social emotions: embarrassment, shame, guilt, admiration, compassion
●Feelings: perceptions of the emotional behavioral patterns
○ex: running away for gut motility will cause a feeling to arise
○Requires mapping of the behaviors and internal body states to the associated
feelings
How are emotions useful?
●Emotions→ contribute to survival and well-being
○Rapid initiation of preset behaviors to avoid dangers or to take advantage of
opportunities
■Benefits of these preset behaviors: well- coordinated and widespread
functional changes of emotional response
●ex: fleeing from threat, freezing in place, or nurturing responses
●Emotional behavioral pattern → focuses attention on emotion-inducing stimulus
○ focus on relevant information
○devotes resources to salient (most relevant) stimulus
○Increases likelihood of appropriate response to important persons or objects
●Emotions → decision-making (good and bad ways)
○Expected emotions, i.e., predictions of emotional consequences of different
decisions, may help select actions that maximize positive emotions and minimize
negative emotions
○Immediate emotions, i.e., experienced at time of decision-making, like anxiety,
may deter risky actions (but a good mood may reduce caution)
Document Summary
Emotional behaviors and associated feelings can be considered distinct. Usually occur in functional sequence ie, behavior closely followed by associated feeling. Although the terms are used interchangeably, we will use the definitions. Emotions: behavioral patterns triggered by emotion-inducing external or internal stimuli below . Leads to changes in facial expression, running away from threat, posture, heart rate, gut motility. Release of chemicals into the blood circulation (hormones) Range of motions: fear, disgust, anger, sadness joy etc. Complex social emotions: embarrassment, shame, guilt, admiration, compassion. Feelings : perceptions of the emotional behavioral patterns. Ex: running away for gut motility will cause a feeling to arise. Requires mapping of the behaviors and internal body states to the associated feelings. Rapid initiation of preset behaviors to avoid dangers or to take advantage of opportunities. Benefits of these preset behaviors: well- coordinated and widespread. Ex: fleeing from threat, freezing in place, or nurturing responses functional changes of emotional response.
