Deck 13: Section 2: From Social Cognition to Affect

Question 1

Are there distinct basic emotions? What is the problem with this question, and what are some ways we might describe how emotions are identified despite these problems?

Answer 1

Not Answer

Question 2

How do interruptions prompt emotions, and how do emotions prompt interruptions? Draw on one prominent theory for each possibility, and include an example of each.

Answer 2

Not Answer

Question 3

Briefly describe how positive and negative emotions relate to each other. Describe the role of temporal construal. Include some discussion of bipolar versus bivalent emotional frameworks.

Answer 3

a. Typically, for short, state-based descriptions, people use bipolar frameworks - tradeoff between positive and negative emotions.
b. Descriptions of emotions over time, or for especially complex events, positive and negative affect are independent $\rightarrow$ bivalent structure.

Question 4

Briefly describe the facial feedback hypothesis. Do you believe this hypothesis is an accurate characterization of emotional processing? Cite research in support of your conclusion.
a. Feedback from facial expressions influences emotional experiences and behavior.
b. Affected by childhood development and upbringing - shapes facial muscles and thereby the emotions they can feel.
c. Controversial - some support from embodied cognition
e.g., holding a pen in the mouth leading to higher ratings of humor), but also many reported failures to replicate and small effects.

Question 5

Describe two reasons why affective forecasting research shows people to overestimate the impact of negative events.

Question 6

Describe the differences between Linville's complexity-extremity hypothesis and Tesser's thought-polarization hypothesis.