Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

2 dimensions:

1) The type of motivation from innate, physiological to psychological motives.

2) The strength of the motivation from weakest to strongest.

According to Maslow, we attempt to satisfy

stronger motives before trying to satisfy

motives that are higher in the hierarchy.

Thus, physiological needs (such as hunger)

must be met before safety needs (security)

can be satisfied.

Self actualization comes from developing one’s

unique potential to its fullest extent. Because

our struggle to satisfy needs that are lower in

the hierarchy is a continuing one, only a small

number of people achieve self-actualization.

Critics note that not everyone proceeds through

the hierarchy as Maslow outlined. Some societies

have difficulty in meeting basic needs, yet they

may be able to satisfy higher needs.

Motives and Conflicts

Approach-approach – daily experiences with two positive goals

Avoidance- Avoidance – daily experiences with two negative

goals

Approach Avoidance – daily experiences with both a positive

and negative goal.

Multiple approach- avoidance – several goals have both

good and bad features. Daily experiences where we are

attracted to and repulsed by a variety of goals. Buying a

new computer or electronic devise where you have to

weigh the pros and cons of various brands, features,

prices etc.

EMOTIONS

The Evolutionary Perspective: Charles Darwin

Emotional expressions have a biological basis. Animals and humans share similar facial and postural expressions (bearing teeth in anger). Darwin suggests that these expressions communicate information about events that help organisms adapt. Emotions increase the chances of survival by providing a readiness for action.

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The Physiological Components of Emotion

Commonsense view of emotion - The sequence

stimulus....emotion...physiological changes.

The James- Lange Theory of Emotion - order of last two events should be reversed: stimulus...physiological change...emotion.

Physiological changes occur before the emotion and actually create the feelings we label as an emotion. We feel sorry

because we cry, afraid because we tremble and not the other way around.

Criticism sometimes we experience emotion before the body’s systems have had time to react. There is no doubt that physiological arousal plays a part in emotion, but it does not necessarily cause emotion.

The Cannon-Bard Theory

the thalamus relays information simultaneously to the cortex and to the sympathetic nervous system, causing emotional feelings and physiological changes to occur at the same time.

Criticisms - for this theory to be correct, the thalamus must be capable of interpreting and relaying the full range of both physiological and emotional reactions, it is doubtful the thalamus is this versatile.

Facial expressions of six basic emotions: Anger, Disgust, Fear, Happiness, Sadness and Surprise.

Six emotions recognized everywhere: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness and surprise. Agreement is highest for facial expressions of happiness.

Plutchik’s Emotion Solid and 3-D structure consisting of eight groupings of primary emotions arranged in tiers representing degrees of intensity and purity. The emotions at the top level exist in pure form only; those at the lower levels can be combined to create other feelings.

Facial Feedback Hypothesisview the intensity of an emotion is strengthened when it is accompanied by muscular activity and weakened when it is not accompanied by such activity. The facial feedback hypothesis states that feedback from facial expression affects emotional expression and behavior.

Duchenne smile the orbicularis oculi (which wraps

around the eye) is not under voluntary control so smiles

of faked enjoyment do not activate this muscle. Last

longer than fake smiles.

Display Rules – cultural norms that tell us which emotions to display to whom and when

The Utku Eskimos strongly condemn feelings of anger.

Certain Arab groups view a man’s failure to respond with anger as dishonorable.

When shown a stress-inducing film of surgery, American students openly displayed their feelings when compared to Japanese students who remained composed.

Paralanguage - Communication that

involves aspects of speech such as rate of

talking and tone of voice, but not the

words used.

Emotions are often associated with shifts in tone of voice. These differences allow us to recognize different emotions from the voice alone at better than chance levels. Sadness and anger are the easiest emotions to recognize.

WHAT DOES EMOTION “SOUND” LIKE ?