PSYC A100 | Lectures 13-18: Study Guide 1
—-—-
—-—-—-—-
Intro to Psychology: Exam Study Guide
—-—-—-—-
Lecture 13: Emotions (Part 1)
● Emotions vs. Moods:
○ *Emotions - Short-term, triggered by a stimulus, motivate
action.
○ *Moods - Long-term emotional states, less intense, no
clear start/end.
● Are Emotions Universal?
● Charles Darwin: Believed emotions are universal.
● Ekman’s Universality Studies: Found that basic emotions
(surprise, happiness, anger, sadness, fear, disgust) are
expressed similarly across cultures.
○ Study 1: Participants from several countries paired
stories with the appropriate emotional
expressions/responses.
○ Study 2: Papua New Guinea participants, despite no
exposure to Western media (i.e. TV shows, etc),
matched emotions similarly.
○ Study 3: U.S. students identified emotions of tribal
people from Papua New Guinea.
● Gender and Emotion
● Men and women may both express anger, but gender
stereotypes suggest women are more emotional.
● Culturally and statistically, men are sometimes perceived
as less expressive.
● Cultural Differences:
○ *Collectivistic cultures = suppress emotional displays
& less emotional.
■ Ex. Japanese individuals hide negative
emotions through smiling.
,PSYC A100 | Lectures 13-18: Study Guide 2
—-—-
○ Differences in emotional perception: East Asians
focus on the eyes, while Americans focus on the
mouth.
■ THINK… Asian -> Eyes 👁️
■ Merican -> Mouth 👄
Lecture 14: Emotions (Part 2)
● Positive Psychology:
○ Focuses on positive emotions, traits, and institutions.
■ “Satisfaction” with the past
■ “Flow and happiness” at the current time
■ “Hope and optimism” for the future
■ THINK… past, present future (positive ideas you
associate with each).
○ Happiness:
■ Heritability: 35-50% of happiness is influenced by
genetics, but environment also plays a role.
■ *Set point: Individuals have a baseline level of
happiness influenced by life experiences.
● THINK… sort of like how people have a baseline
body temperature or heart rate. Everyone’s
baseline is slightly different.
■ Increasing happiness:
● *Habituation: Your happiness response
decreases as you become accustomed to the
once-exciting experience.
○ Ex. You buy a shiny new car, but over time,
the excitement of the new car fades.
● Seeking Contentment - lasting satisfaction
rather than seeking highs.
■ Will this increase happiness?
● Yes:
○ Going to college
, PSYC A100 | Lectures 13-18: Study Guide 3
—-—-
○ Achieving “flow”
○ Prioritizing relationships
○ Counting your blessings (gratefulness)
○ Kindness and generosity
○ “Buying time” (saving time)
● No:
○ Becoming a millionaire
○ Buying new stuff (toys, etc.)
● Maybe:
○ Moving your body (exercise, dancing, etc.)
○ Buying experiences (concerts, movies, etc.)
● Theories of Emotion:
1. James-Lange Theory: Emotions are the result of
physiological responses
a. Environmental Stimulus -> Physiological Response ->
Experience of Emotion
🏐
i. THINK… cause & effect | 3-step process, one
step leads to the next. BUMP, SET, SPIKE
ii. Ex. a bear roars (environmental stimulus), THEN
your heart starts to race (physiological
response), THEN you become afraid (experience
of emotion)
2. Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and physiological
responses occur at the same time.
a. Environment Stimulus -> Physio. Response AND
Experience of Emotion
i. Ex. a bear roars (environmental stimulus), your
heart starts to race (physio. response) AND you
feel afraid (experience of emotion) at the same
time. The direct cause of BOTH was the bear.
—-—-
—-—-—-—-
Intro to Psychology: Exam Study Guide
—-—-—-—-
Lecture 13: Emotions (Part 1)
● Emotions vs. Moods:
○ *Emotions - Short-term, triggered by a stimulus, motivate
action.
○ *Moods - Long-term emotional states, less intense, no
clear start/end.
● Are Emotions Universal?
● Charles Darwin: Believed emotions are universal.
● Ekman’s Universality Studies: Found that basic emotions
(surprise, happiness, anger, sadness, fear, disgust) are
expressed similarly across cultures.
○ Study 1: Participants from several countries paired
stories with the appropriate emotional
expressions/responses.
○ Study 2: Papua New Guinea participants, despite no
exposure to Western media (i.e. TV shows, etc),
matched emotions similarly.
○ Study 3: U.S. students identified emotions of tribal
people from Papua New Guinea.
● Gender and Emotion
● Men and women may both express anger, but gender
stereotypes suggest women are more emotional.
● Culturally and statistically, men are sometimes perceived
as less expressive.
● Cultural Differences:
○ *Collectivistic cultures = suppress emotional displays
& less emotional.
■ Ex. Japanese individuals hide negative
emotions through smiling.
,PSYC A100 | Lectures 13-18: Study Guide 2
—-—-
○ Differences in emotional perception: East Asians
focus on the eyes, while Americans focus on the
mouth.
■ THINK… Asian -> Eyes 👁️
■ Merican -> Mouth 👄
Lecture 14: Emotions (Part 2)
● Positive Psychology:
○ Focuses on positive emotions, traits, and institutions.
■ “Satisfaction” with the past
■ “Flow and happiness” at the current time
■ “Hope and optimism” for the future
■ THINK… past, present future (positive ideas you
associate with each).
○ Happiness:
■ Heritability: 35-50% of happiness is influenced by
genetics, but environment also plays a role.
■ *Set point: Individuals have a baseline level of
happiness influenced by life experiences.
● THINK… sort of like how people have a baseline
body temperature or heart rate. Everyone’s
baseline is slightly different.
■ Increasing happiness:
● *Habituation: Your happiness response
decreases as you become accustomed to the
once-exciting experience.
○ Ex. You buy a shiny new car, but over time,
the excitement of the new car fades.
● Seeking Contentment - lasting satisfaction
rather than seeking highs.
■ Will this increase happiness?
● Yes:
○ Going to college
, PSYC A100 | Lectures 13-18: Study Guide 3
—-—-
○ Achieving “flow”
○ Prioritizing relationships
○ Counting your blessings (gratefulness)
○ Kindness and generosity
○ “Buying time” (saving time)
● No:
○ Becoming a millionaire
○ Buying new stuff (toys, etc.)
● Maybe:
○ Moving your body (exercise, dancing, etc.)
○ Buying experiences (concerts, movies, etc.)
● Theories of Emotion:
1. James-Lange Theory: Emotions are the result of
physiological responses
a. Environmental Stimulus -> Physiological Response ->
Experience of Emotion
🏐
i. THINK… cause & effect | 3-step process, one
step leads to the next. BUMP, SET, SPIKE
ii. Ex. a bear roars (environmental stimulus), THEN
your heart starts to race (physiological
response), THEN you become afraid (experience
of emotion)
2. Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and physiological
responses occur at the same time.
a. Environment Stimulus -> Physio. Response AND
Experience of Emotion
i. Ex. a bear roars (environmental stimulus), your
heart starts to race (physio. response) AND you
feel afraid (experience of emotion) at the same
time. The direct cause of BOTH was the bear.
