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TOK Guest Speaker: Mr. Cokerdem (Mr. C.) Slide 2 Slide 3 1) Gain a deeper understanding of emotion 2) Explore how emotion and rationality interact 3) Consider ways we can enhance our lives and daily experiences based on research and reflection Slide 4 Psychological Definition - a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior. Key words: feelings, changes, influence thought and behavior Slide 5 So, how many emotions are there? Many. Yet, there are about 6 that seem to exist across cultures: anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprise. (Paul Ekman, anthropologist) Slide 6 Can you spot them? Anger? Disgust? Fear? Happiness? Sadness? Surprise? Slide 7 Questions: 1) How does emotion relate to knowledge? 2) Are there ways you think emotion enhances knowledge? If so, how? 3) Are there ways you think emotion hinders accurate knowledge? If so, how? (Note: hinder = to detract from, take away from or make something more difficult to achieve) Instructions: First, reflect as individuals for 3-5 minutes. Then, share/discuss in groups, 5-7 minutes. Finally, well de-brief as a class. Emotion: a complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior. Slide 8 What did you discuss? Key insights? Key questions? Just curious: Did anyone discuss the degree of emotions? In other words, their intensity? Did anyone discuss scenarios where a person feels none of the 6 main emotions at any one time? What do we think about that? Slide 9 Significant emotion (passion) and rational thinking tend to be mutually exclusive. Can we accept that statement? If so, lets explore that a bit, shall we? Do I sound like Mr. Cannon yet? Lord help me if I start sounding like Mr. Byck. Slide 10 As passionate emotion increases, our ability to make decisions that we will look back on and agree are good decisions has a strong tendency to fail. Consider the things we say: A hot-headed person is rather emotional and likely to make rash decisions. A person with a cool-head makes thoughtful, considered decisions. Emotion is a chemical state in our brains that we experience as basic 'feelings'. Those same chemicals inhibit our higher cognitive capabilities and limit what we call rational thought. Slide 11 Two young lovers in the heat of the moment Fight or flight response: A) Crime of passion homicides due to extreme anger or jealousy; temporary insanity B) Running from the police when they have a gun and say freeze! C) Hit and run driver Can you think of decisions that are affected as emotional response increases? (Think and talk amongst yourselves.) Also, would you tend to think these decisions are less rational? Slide 12 How do you help someone in an emotional state make a rational decision? Help them calm down BUT, do not just say 'calm down since that is a rational appeal. Instead, speak to the emotions with emotional words. Then slowly become less emotional. If you have time, the simplest approach is just to wait. Extreme emotions often do not last and the person will eventually cool down. Any actors in the room? Care for a simulation? Slide 13 How do you get someone to become less likely to make a rational decision? Now, were talking!!! Drum roll please. Answer: get them into an emotional state! Enter the salesperson: A sales person will get their customers: Excited, Hopeful, Lustful We cant forget the politicians: They routinely invoke: Fear, nationalism, and the desire to help their fellow humans sometimes all in one speech! Of course, Venezuelan politics is all about rationality. No emotion here. And, of course, Las Vegas and any casino: Name of the game get the customers drunk so theyll spend more money! Alcohol is free, especially once you start winning money Also, if you win big, you get free rooms and meals. Why? So youll stay and lose the money the next day. Slide 14 Paul Ekman (the guy behind the faces) The inescapability of emotional response we are wired to respond emotionally Slide 15 Appraisal recognize the situations that are apt to create an emotional response or at least recognize the emotion when it happens Impulse feel the impulse of that emotion and what is propelling you to do (what action to take) Increase the gap - before you act, work on increasing the time so that you can deliberately choose how to best respond Lets take a look! Slide 16 http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpo3bz_paul-ekman-on-the-inescapability-of-emotional- response_news#.UZavN7Ovhow http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpo3bz_paul-ekman-on-the-inescapability-of-emotional- response_news#.UZavN7Ovhow Slide 17 Emotion affects decision-making Even when we know what causes our mood, we still are affected by the mood and it influences our decision-making Just type in: scientists explore effects of emotion youll see the link: http://phys.org/news10395.html http://phys.org/news10395.html Slide 18 "While anxiety triggers a preference for options that are safer and provide a sense of control, sadness triggers a preference for options that are more rewarding and comforting. Slide 19 Lets read this article together To get it quickly, google how are happiness and learning connected Its the first article under edutopia http://www.edutopia.org/blog/happiness- learning-connection-rebecca-alber http://www.edutopia.org/blog/happiness- learning-connection-rebecca-alber Reactions? Slide 20 Take some time to cement todays lesson. In no particular order or format, record in writing some ah-ha moments or anything you felt about todays lesson that triggered interesting, different, or potentially valuable thoughts. Rank your top 3 or 4. Then, lets do a quick class share out. That means you get to pick any one item you shared. Identifying 3 or 4 ahead of time will help us avoid duplicates. Slide 21 An interesting theory on depression: Perhaps, it is an evolutionary response that initially developed because in some cases, it can encourage one to ponder and analyze complex issues. Google depression evolutionary roots http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=de pressions-evolutionary http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=de pressions-evolutionary Slide 22 Thanks Everyone!!! And, remember