Questions from Lecture Outlines

Human Emotions (50:830:306)
 

(**Note that the questions for each Lecture Topic below were for Fall  2019 unless specifically marked as Spring 2021.  These will be updated to with any changes and marked as as we go through the  semester.)
     

Outlines for Exam #1:
 

Unit 1: Introduction and the Phenomenological Component of Emotions (Spring 2021)

I.    Introduction to the course.

II.    What is an emotion?

          A.     What are some examples of emotion?

          B.     What questions do we have about emotions?

          A.     How can we define an emotion?

          B.     What are the components of emotions?

          C.     What is an emotion syndrome?

III.  What do we mean by phenomenology of an emotion?

IV.  What are some ways to study the phenomenology of emotion?

V.   What questions do we have about the phenomenology 
        of emotions, and what are some answers to those questions?

           A.     Is there different phenomenology for different emotions?
                    If so, what are some differences that researchers have found?

           B.     Is there different phenomenology for different intensities of an emotion?
                    If so, how do people judge the intensity of their emotions?

           C.     Is there different phenomenology for emotions vs.  non-emotions?
                    What differences have been proposed?

           D.     To what extent are we aware of our emotions?
 

Unit 2:  The Physiological Component of Emotions (Spring 2021)

I.    What happens in the brain and the body when we have an emotion?

II.   What are the physiological causes and components of normal emotions?

A.    Overview: how do the central nervous system, intermediate mechanisms, and
        peripheral nervous system relate to each other as causes and components of emotions?

 

B.    What is the role of specific central nervous system structures (e.g., thalamus,
        cerebral cortex, specific limbic system structures, hypothalamus, etc.)?

C.    What is the role of intermediate mechanisms (specific neurotransmitters,
        neuromodulators, and hormones)?

D.    What is the role of specific peripheral responses (e.g., cardiovascular
        responses, respiratory responses, etc.)?

 

Unit 3:  The Expressive Component of Emotions (Spring 2021)

I.    What is an emotion expression?

II.   In what ways can an emotion be expressed?

III.  Do different people express the same emotion in similar ways or in different ways?

IV.  What are the expressions for particular emotions (e.g., joy, sadness, fear, anger)?

V.   Why is each emotion expressed the way it is (Where did the
       expressions come from)?

VI.  Why do we have emotion expressions (What is their function)?
 
 

Unit 4:  The Behavioral Component of Emotions (Spring 2021)

I.    What is meant by emotional "behavior"? 

       A.     What is the difference between emotion expressions and emotional behaviors?

II.   What is the relationship between particular emotions and particular 
       behaviors?

       A. What are 6 different claims about this relationship that have been made
            (and which theories have been proposed by which theorists)?

       B. Which of these 6 theories is likely to be true (and under
            which conditions)?

III.  Which behaviors go with which emotions?

IV.   Why are particular behaviors components of emotion syndromes?
 
 

Unit 5: Motives and the Emotivational Component of Emotions (Spring 2021)

I.    In what ways are motives related to emotions?

II.   What are the differences between motives and emotions?

III.  Which emotivations go with which emotions?

IV.  Why do emotions have an emotivational component?


 

Outlines for Exam #2:
 

     Unit 6:  The Situations in Which Emotions Occur  (Spring 2021) 

I .    What questions do we have about the situations in which emotions occur?
        A. When do we have an emotion (as opposed to no emotion)?
        B. When do we have positive vs. negative emotions?
        C. When do we have particular emotions (e.g., joy vs. pride? sadness vs. anger?)
        D. When do we have low intensity emotions vs. high intensity emotions?

II .   What do we know about the answers to these questions from prior theory and research?

        A.  What do we know from research on specific situations that elicit particular emotions?2

        B.  What do we know from research on types of situations that elicit particular emotions?  

        C.  What do we know from theories that identify specific situations and
              types of situations that elicit particular emotions?
              1. What do we know from Aristotle's theory?
              2. What do we know from Rozin's theory?
              3. What can we learn from Mandler's theory?

III.   How can we construct a contemporary theory that can answer all
         these questions, and what answers would it give?
 
 

Unit 7: Appraisal Determinants of Emotion: Motivation + Cognition   (Spring 2021)

I.    What are the possible causes of emotions?

II.   What are the basic claims of appraisal theories?

III.  What appraisals are involved in causing us to feel emotions?
        (see class notes and Three Theories handout)

IV.  Which appraisals lead to which emotions? (see class notes, and
       Three Theories handout and RosemanTheoryChart.2017)

V.    Do appraisals really CAUSE emotions?

 

Unit 8:  The Effects of Emotions  (Spring 2021) 

I.    What are the general effects of emotions, and how can we explain them?

      A.   What are the effects of emotions on cognition?

             1.    What are the effects of emotions on the quality of thinking?

             2.    What are the effects of emotions on memory?

             3.    What are the effects of emotions on perception?

             4.    What are the effects of emotions on imagination?

             5.    What are the effects of emotions on other types of thought processes (e.g.,
                    inferences, judgments, decisions)?

             6.    Why do emotions have these effects?

      B.   What are the effects of emotions on behavior?

             1.    What are the various effects of positive vs. negative emotions?

II.  What are the specific effects of emotions and moods (such as happy and sad mood)
      on health cognition and actual health, and how can we explain them?

      A.   What are the effects of on health cognitions? 

      B.    What are the effects on health behaviors?

      C.    What are the effects on actual health, and how can we explain them?

 

    Unit 9:  The Functions of Emotions    (Spring 2021) 

I.    Are emotions adaptive (helpful) or maladaptive (harmful)?

      A.   When are emotions adaptive vs. maladaptive?

II.   What are the functions of emotions in general 
       (Why do we have emotions)?

III.  What are the functions of particular emotions (Why do we have
        the particular emotions that we do: joy, sadness, fear, anger, etc.)?

IV.   What are the functions of each of the response components
        of emotions (phenomenological, physiological, expressive
        behavioral,  emotivational)?
 
 

      Unit 10:  The Structure of Emotions  (Spring 2021)

I.     How many different emotions are there, and what are they?

        A.   How do different theorists (Ekman & Friesen; Frijda;
               Cowen et al.; De Rivera; Roseman) answer this question? 

II.    How are these emotions related to each other?

        A.   How is this question answered by
               1.  dimensional theories?
               2.  discrete emotions theories?
               3.  combination theories? (in addition to Plutchik theory chapter,
                    refer again to RosemanTheoryChart.2017)

III.  What produces these relationships among emotions?  (see class notes, and
        "WhyTheseAppraisalsLeadToTheseEmotions" chart )
   
     


Outlines for Exam #3:

     Unit 11:  Emotional Development  (Spring 2021) 

I.     Which aspects of emotions are innate?

II.    When do particular emotions first appear in development?
        Why does each emotion first appear when it does?

III.   How do emotions change after they first appear?

  

Unit 12:  Individual, Gender, and Cultural Differences in Emotions  (Spring 2021) 

I.     Do individuals differ in emotional responses?  If so, why?

        A.   What are some inherited (temperamental) differences in emotional response, or
               related to emotional response?

               1.    Do these differences tend to persist or tend to change as a child grows up?

        B.   What are some learned differences in emotional  response (e.g., in attachment style), and
               what causes them?

II.    Are there differences between men and women in emotional responses? 

        A.   If so, what are they and what causes them?

III.   Are there cultural or ethnic differences in emotional responses?

        A.   If so, what are they and what causes them?


       Unit 13:  Emotional Dysfunction   (Spring 2021) 

I.    What are 3 general types of psychopathology that involve emotions?

II.   What are some specific examples of emotional dysfunction?  For each one, what
       are its major symptoms and causes?

       A.    Overview: What are the major types of abnormal emotion,
               and what responses do we see in each one?

       B.    What is Major Depressive Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes?

       C.    What is Bipolar Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes? 

       D.   What are anxiety disorders?

               1.  What is Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes?

               2.  What is Panic Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes?

        E.    What is Intermittent Explosive Disorder?

        F.    What is Delusional Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes?

        G.    What is Antisocial Personality Disorder, and what are its symptoms and causes?


       Unit 14:  The Regulation and Control of Emotions  (Spring 2021) 

I.     Should emotions be controlled?

II.   What general types of control might people have over emotions?

       (for pdf copy of Types & Methods of Control handout, click here)

III.  What specific methods could be used to control emotions, how does
        each method work, and when is each one most likely to be effective?

       A.    What are situational interventions, and how do they work?

       B.    What are motivational interventions, and how do they work?

       C.    What are cognitive interventions, and how do they work?

       D.    What are physiological interventions, and how do they work?

       E.    What are behavioral interventions, and how do they work?

        (for pdf copy of Emotional Problems, Interventions, and Explanations of the
        Therapeutic Process handout, click here)