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
is defined as physiological changes and conscious
feelings of pleasantness or unpleasantness, aroused
by external and internal stimuli, that lead to
behavioral reactions.

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.
 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 Hypothesis
view 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.
WHAT DOES EMOTION “SOUND” LIKE ?

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.