Theory of KnowledgeEMOTION

QUESTION

What happens when we have an emotion?

As you look at the following slides, note As you look at the following slides, note down your emotions, as well as any other down your emotions, as well as any other

physical or mental reaction you may have…physical or mental reaction you may have…

Now turn to your partner, and answer Now turn to your partner, and answer the following questions together:the following questions together:

• How are emotions triggered?How are emotions triggered?•What determines the strength or What determines the strength or weakness of an emotion?weakness of an emotion?•Do emotions make you think and Do emotions make you think and behave differently? If so, how? behave differently? If so, how?

QUESTION

What are the most popular theories of emotion?

The James-Lange TheoryThe James-Lange Theory

Perception of emotion-arousing stimulus

Specific physiological changes

Interpretation of specific physiological changes as the emotion

The James-Lange theory of emotion states that different emotion-arousing external stimuli will produce specific physiological changes that in turn directly cause specific emotional feelings.

Thus, the external stimuli of a dangerous object will cause the physiological response of adrenaline release / increased heart rate, which in turn is felt as the emotion of fear.

According to this theory, you are afraid According to this theory, you are afraid becausebecause you run. you run.

The Schachter-Singer TheoryThe Schachter-Singer Theory

Perception of emotion-arousing stimulus

Physiological responses

Cognitive identification of feedback from

physiological responses as a particular emotion

Physiological responses can be interpreted in different ways – different people may label the same response as a different emotion.

According to this theory, I feel my heart beating According to this theory, I feel my heart beating fast because I’m afraid. fast because I’m afraid. HeHe feels his heart beating feels his heart beating

fast because he’s fast because he’s excitedexcited……

The Cannon-Bard TheoryThe Cannon-Bard Theory

Perception of emotion-arousing stimulus

Conscious experience of emotion

General physiological changes

The Cannon-Bard theory of emotion states that conscious feelings of emotion and physiological changes occur as separate but simultaneous reactions to external emotion-arousing stimuli.

According to this theory, you feel fear at the sight of a According to this theory, you feel fear at the sight of a bear even before you run away from it.bear even before you run away from it.

QUESTION

How do you think emotion works?

Read the instructions on your activity sheet.

Activity 1

QUESTIONWhat is the connection between reasoning and

emotion?

Reflection:Reflection:

How many times in the past How many times in the past few weeks have you done few weeks have you done

something that was triggered something that was triggered by an emotion, but without by an emotion, but without

thinking?thinking?

Note some thoughts in your Note some thoughts in your journals, then share them journals, then share them

with a partner. with a partner.

• Friend – Woman’s Face – Jumped – Saved Girl

Can Emotion Bypass the Reasoning Brain?Can Emotion Bypass the Reasoning Brain?

What made him jump in the water before What made him jump in the water before he knew why? he knew why?

1. The person perceives the stimulus (snake)2. Information about the snake is processed in the visual cortex (in the neo-cortex, the reasoning part of the brain).

3. An emotional response occurs in the amygdala.

4. The emotional response triggers a physical reaction, such as fighting or running away.

The James-Lange TheoryThe James-Lange Theory

Le Doux’s work revealed how the architecture of the brain gives the amygdala a privileged position as an emotional sentinel, able to hijack the brain. His research has shown that sensory signals from eye or ear travel first in the brain to the thalamus, and then to the amygdala; a second signal from the thalamus is routed to the neocortex – the thinking brain. This branching allows the amygdala to begin to respond before the neocortex, which mulls information through several levels of brain circuits before it fully perceives and finally initiates a more finely tailored response. (Goleman: 17)

Therefore, impulsive feeling does sometimes override the

rational part of the brain.

thalamus

amygdala

visual cortex

Counterclaim: Le Doux’s TheoryCounterclaim: Le Doux’s Theory

With a partner, think about times in your life when this might have happened…

When else might this happen?When else might this happen?

• when we speak without thinking

• when we react on impulse (positive: to save someone’s life; negative: to hit someone)

• when we act on a ‘hunch’ (and turn out to be right…or very wrong)

• when we have irrational fears (phobias), such as a fear of that spider, even though it’s tiny!

• when we are filled with jealousy because our girlfriend / boyfriend is talking very sweetly (or so it seems) to someone else.

QUESTIONWhy is emotion a ‘knowledge issue’, or

‘problem of knowledge’ when we are trying to find the truth about something?

(read the instructions for activity 2 on your activity sheet)

Activity 2

Activity 2 – Clip 2