Question 1

Which of the following statements is true? Conceptually, emotions are composed of…

Accepted Answer

Emotions are conceptually composed of three key components: excitation (the physiological arousal or activation), interpretation (the cognitive process of labeling and making sense of the arousal), and expression (the outward manifestation of the emotion).

Question 2

Physiological excitation associated with emotions is always noticeable

Accepted Answer

Physiological excitation associated with emotions can sometimes be subtle and not always noticeable to an outside observer or even the individual experiencing the emotion.

Question 3

refers to when you experience emotions due to a media message because of the importance of the message for you personally.

Accepted Answer

Self-directed emotion refers to the feelings that arise within an individual as a direct response to a media message that holds personal significance. This contrasts with emotions that are directed towards others or those that are felt on behalf of others.

Question 4

Emotional responses to mediated messages don't always match the emotions portrayed in the message.

Accepted Answer

People interpret and react to mediated messages based on their own experiences, beliefs, and current mood, which can lead to emotional responses that differ from the emotions being portrayed in the message.

Question 5

Which stage of excitation transfer theory is correctly defined?

Accepted Answer

Stage one of excitation transfer theory involves physiological excitation being present, and individuals are aware of its cause.

Question 6

Excitation transfer theory suggests:
Individuals interpret physiological excitation states based on stimuli they are presently confronted with, even though parts of that excitation were caused by stimuli encountered ______________ (pick response to fill blank) .

Accepted Answer

Excitation transfer theory posits that arousal from one stimulus can be transferred and added to arousal from a new stimulus, affecting the individual's overall response. This transfer typically occurs over short periods, such as seconds or a few minutes, not over long durations or from distant past experiences.

Question 7

Which of the following has NOT been demonstrated as an effect of excitation transfer?

Accepted Answer

Excitation transfer theory primarily discusses how arousal from one stimulus can be transferred and influence reactions to a subsequent stimulus, affecting emotions like enjoyment or aggression. It does not directly relate to enhanced information recall.

Question 8

Empathy is a type of _____.

Accepted Answer

Empathy is an other-directed emotion because it involves understanding and sharing the feelings of others.

Question 9

Emotions and excitations from exposure to mediated messages induces excitation so frequently that it can have long term implications. Scholars are concerned about which consequence?

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed are concerns that scholars have regarding the long-term implications of frequent excitation from exposure to mediated messages. Desensitization refers to the reduction in emotional responsiveness to a stimulus after repeated exposure to it. Attention deficits can arise from the constant bombardment of stimuli, making it harder for individuals to focus. Reduced empathetic responses can occur as individuals become less sensitive to the emotional cues and needs of others due to overexposure to mediated content.

Question 10

Which of the following describes the notion of desensitization? By watching violence…

Accepted Answer

Desensitization refers to the process by which viewers become accustomed to violence through repeated exposure, leading to less intense emotional responses to such stimuli over time.

Question 11

Arousal is considered a possible effect of media violence that may have further consequences, as individuals...

Accepted Answer

Arousal from media violence can lead individuals to misattribute their heightened physiological state to minor provocations, causing them to overreact.

Question 12

What does the excitation-transfer model postulate?

Accepted Answer

The excitation-transfer model suggests that arousal levels, once generated, can persist and influence subsequent emotional experiences, even after the initial stimulus is gone. This means arousal levels adjust more slowly than cognitive interpretations.

Question 13

According to Excitation Transfer Theory…

Accepted Answer

Excitation Transfer Theory suggests that emotions are composed of physiological arousal and the cognitive interpretation of that arousal. This theory explains how residual physiological arousal from one event can intensify emotional reactions to subsequent events.

Question 14

Which of the following issues (among media users) are thought to be influenced by the media's extensive use of elements that instigate physiological arousal?

Accepted Answer

The media's use of elements that instigate physiological arousal is thought to contribute to desensitization, where repeated exposure to certain stimuli reduces emotional responsiveness, and attention deficits, as constant stimulation can impair the ability to focus.

Question 15

Max and Jane are friends, but after watching an intense horror movie together, Max thinks that he might have a crush on Jane. Which theory accounts for this phenomenon?

Accepted Answer

Excitation Transfer Theory suggests that arousal from one event can transfer to another, leading Max to misattribute his heightened physiological state from the horror movie to feelings for Jane.

Question 16

Drew watches a movie scene in which a person gets stabbed. Instantly, Drew's shoulders get tense, along with a facial expression of pain. Which theory or concept accounts for this observation?

Accepted Answer

Drew's reaction is an example of empathy, where he experiences a vicarious emotional response to the pain of the person being stabbed in the movie.

Question 17

John sees an emotionally-charged news item involving gun violence; then the news anchor makes a joke about the unpredictable weather in Ohio. John finds this joke absolutely hilarious! Which theory or phenomenon explains this best?

Accepted Answer

Excitation transfer theory explains how residual arousal from one event can intensify the emotional response to a subsequent event, making John's reaction to the joke more intense.

Question 18

John watches a particular news program every night, which includes plenty of upsetting footage, fast-paced editing and music, along with intense eye-witness accounts of crime and disaster events around the world. Today he happened to witness two people get into a bloody fight at a bar but didn't bother with calling help/police. Which theory or phenomenon explains this best?

Accepted Answer

Desensitization refers to the reduced emotional responsiveness to a negative stimulus after repeated exposure to it, which explains John's lack of reaction to the fight.

Quiz 10: Emotions and Excitation