#AP Psychology: Emotions - The Night Before 🌃

Hey! Let's get you feeling confident about emotions for your AP Psych exam. We'll break it down, make it stick, and you'll be ready to rock! 💪

#What are Emotions?

Emotions are your body's way of responding to the world, involving:

• Physiological arousal ❤️ (heart racing, sweating)
• Expressive behaviors 🚶 (facial expressions, body language)
• Conscious experience 🤔 (what you're actually feeling)

#Theories of Emotion

Emotions are vital for survival, keeping us alert and focused. Here's how different theories explain them:

#1. Common Sense Theory

• Idea: Emotion comes first, then the physical response.
• Example: "I'm scared, so I tremble."
• Problem: This theory is too simplistic and doesn't explain the complexity of emotions.
• 💡Tl;dr: Emotion → Physiological Response

#2. James-Lange Theory

• Idea: Physical response comes first, then the emotion.
• Example: "We feel sad because we cry, angry because we tense up, and afraid because we tremble.”

Image Courtesy of Pixorize.

• 💡Tl;dr: Physiological Response → Emotion

#3. Cannon-Bard Theory

• Idea: Stimulus triggers the brain, which simultaneously causes both physiological responses and the feeling of emotion.
• Example: "My heart begins pounding as I feel fear."

Image Courtesy of Pixorize.

• 💡Tl;dr: Physiological Response + Emotion (happen at the same time)

#4. Schachter-Singer (Two-Factor) Theory

• Idea: Physiological arousal happens first, then you cognitively appraise the situation to determine the emotion.
• Example: "I am trembling because of the snake in the room. Therefore, I must be afraid."

Image Courtesy of Pixorize.

• 💡Tl;dr: Physiological Response + Thoughts = Emotion

#5. Zajonc-LeDoux Theory

• Idea: Some emotional reactions happen instantly, without conscious thought.
• Fast Pathway: Immediate survival emotions (like fear) bypass cognitive processing.
• Slow Pathway: Other emotions (like love) involve more cognitive processing.
• Example: Startling at a sound in the forest before labeling it a threat.

Image Courtesy of Purdue.

• 💡Tl;dr: Some emotions bypass cognition.

#6. Lazarus Theory

• Idea: Cognitive appraisal of the environment leads to physiological arousal and emotional experience.
• Example: “Is it dangerous or not? That sound is 'just the wind.'"
• 💡Tl;dr: Thoughts first, then everything else.

#3 Primary Emotions (Evolution)

• Fear, anger, and happiness are adaptive responses that motivate survival.

#Facial Expressions and Emotions

• Emotions are similar, with subtle differences in brain activation.
  • Fear and anger are similar, but fear activates the amygdala more.
  • Negative emotions activate the right prefrontal cortex, while positive emotions activate the left prefrontal cortex.
• Body language is key to understanding emotions.
  • We are good at spotting nonverbal threats (angry faces, voices).
  • We are not great at detecting lies; fMRIs are more effective than polygraphs.
  • Women are often seen as more emotional, while men are seen as angrier.

#Culture

• Facial expressions are universal (Paul Ekman's research).

You could probably tell which emotion each person is displaying! Image Courtesy of UC Berkeley.

• Cultures differ in how much emotion they express.
  • Individualistic cultures (America, Europe) tend to show more emotion.
  • Collectivist cultures (Asia) tend to hide emotions.

#Facial Feedback Effect

• Facial muscle states can trigger corresponding feelings. Smiling can make you feel happier! 😃

#Final Exam Focus

• High-Value Topics:
  • Theories of Emotion (especially James-Lange, Cannon-Bard, Schachter-Singer)
  • Facial expressions and cultural differences
  • The interplay of physiological, behavioral, and cognitive aspects of emotions
• Common Question Types:
  • Multiple-choice questions testing your understanding of each theory.
  • FRQs asking you to apply different theories to real-life scenarios.
  • Questions that combine emotions with other units like stress, motivation, and cognition.
• Last-Minute Tips:
  • Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back if needed.
  • Common Pitfalls: Confusing the order of events in different emotion theories. Make sure you have that down!
  • Strategies: Read questions carefully. Underline key words. Use process of elimination in multiple-choice.

Make sure you understand the differences between the theories of emotion. This is a very high-yield topic that appears frequently in both multiple-choice and free-response questions.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

Multiple Choice Questions

1. According to the James-Lange theory of emotion, which of the following sequences is correct? (A) stimulus → emotion → physiological response (B) stimulus → physiological response → emotion (C) stimulus → cognitive appraisal → emotion → physiological response (D) stimulus → emotion and physiological response (simultaneous) (E) stimulus → physiological response and cognitive appraisal → emotion

2. Which theory of emotion suggests that our emotional experience is based on our interpretation of a physiological response and the context of the situation? (A) James-Lange theory (B) Cannon-Bard theory (C) Schachter-Singer theory (D) Zajonc-LeDoux theory (E) Lazarus theory

3. Paul Ekman's research on facial expressions supports the idea that: (A) facial expressions are primarily learned through cultural experiences. (B) facial expressions are universal and innate. (C) facial expressions are highly variable across cultures. (D) facial expressions are primarily used to deceive others. (E) facial expressions are not related to emotional experiences.

Free Response Question

Sarah is walking home alone late at night when she hears footsteps behind her. Her heart starts pounding, and she begins to sweat. She quickly turns around and sees a large dog running towards her. She feels a surge of fear and starts running.

(a) Explain Sarah's emotional response using the James-Lange theory of emotion. (b) Explain Sarah's emotional response using the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion. (c) Explain Sarah's emotional response using the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion. (d) How might Zajonc and LeDoux explain Sarah's initial reaction to the sound of footsteps?

Scoring Rubric

(a) James-Lange Theory (2 points)

• 1 point: Correctly identifies that the physiological response (heart pounding, sweating) occurs first.
• 1 point: Correctly explains that the emotion of fear is a result of her physiological response.

(b) Cannon-Bard Theory (2 points)

• 1 point: Correctly identifies that the physiological response (heart pounding, sweating) and the emotion of fear occur simultaneously.
• 1 point: Correctly explains that the stimulus (hearing footsteps) triggers both the physiological response and the emotion independently.

(c) Schachter-Singer Theory (2 points)

• 1 point: Correctly identifies that the physiological response (heart pounding, sweating) occurs first.
• 1 point: Correctly explains that Sarah's cognitive appraisal of the situation (seeing a large dog) leads to the emotional experience of fear.

(d) Zajonc-LeDoux Theory (1 point)

• 1 point: Correctly explains that Sarah's initial reaction to the sound of footsteps might be an immediate, unconscious emotional response (fear or startle) that bypasses cognitive processing.

You've got this! Go get 'em! 🚀