Introduction to Psychology

Introduction to Psychology relative activation of the right hemisphere, whereas positive emotions are related to relatively greater activation in the left hemisphere. Role of Hormones- The fight-or-flight response is produced by the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system and by hormones from the endocrine system. The sympathetic nervous system produces arousal within a few seconds by directly stimulating the organs and muscles of the body. Meanwhile, the endocrine system pumps epinephrine, cortisol, and other stress hormones into the bloodstream. Deception and the Polygraph- A scientific instrument known as a polygraph measures physiological response, such as respiration, heart rate, and skin conductance (which increases in the presence of emotion due to sweat gland activity). Because we have less control over physiological responses than over numerous other behaviors, many people regard the polygraph as a nearly infallible means of establishing whether or not someone is telling the truth. The validity of the polygraph as a lie detector has been questioned, largely because of the difficulty of establishing the meaning of recorded physiological responses. Cultural Influences- Certain gestures, body postures, and physical movements can convey vastly different meanings in different cultures. Display Rules- Cultural display rules dictate when and how particular emotions are to be expressed. Many emotional theorists conclude that innate biological factors and cultural display rules combine to shape emotional expression across different cultures. Body Language- Emotional responses are often calls to action, requiring a response to the situation that aroused the emotion. These are instrumental behaviors directed at achieving some emotional relevant goal. There is an optimal level of arousal for the performance of any task. The optimal level varies with the complexity of the task; complex tasks have lower optimal levels. The James-Lange theory maintains that we first become aroused and then judge what we are feeling. The Cannon-Bard theory proposes that arousal and cognition are independent and simultaneously triggered by the by the thalamus. According to Lazarus’s cognitive-affective theory, appraisals trigger emotional arousal; in contrast, according to Schachter’s two-factor theory of emotion, arousal tells us how strongly we are feeling while cognitions derived from situational cues helps us label the specific emotion.

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