Chapter 12 Questions
1. What is a motive? … an emotion? Make a list before you read the chapter, then read and compare. You may find that you use these terms differently than the text.
2. How does the hunger "motive" work? How can it go awry? To answer, summarize the material beginning on p. 429. Why are so many Americans obese? Why is the failure rate for dieting so high? Are these problems biological, cultural, or psychological? Take a position and argue for it.
3. (a) What is an instinct? List some instincts you have observed in animals; in humans. Come to class ready to discuss your choices, especially for humans. (b) What are some human behaviors that are frequently designated as instinctual in everyday life? Draw up a list by thinking about what might be referred to in these contexts: "That's instinctual." "He/she has a really strong ______instinct." "...an instinct for ______." "My instincts tell me to ______."
4. Look at Maslow's hierarchy of needs p. 427. (a) Do you agree with the hierarchy concept? Is this the way it works for you? (b) Do you agree with the specific needs mentioned, and their arrangement? In your own life, think of an example at each tier.
5. Be prepared to discuss one of your own motives that seems best explained by each of the following theories: (a) instinct/ sociobiological; (b) homeostasis theory; (c) arousal theory; (d) incentive theory; (e) intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
6. What is emotion FOR? What is emotional EXPRESSION for? What functions do they serve? What would humans be like without them? Can you think of any animals that do NOT show emotions?
7. (a) Summarize the evidence in this chapter that emotions and emotional expression are universal (and therefore biological). What if this were NOT true -- could emotions still work as they do? (b) Emotion is a communication system. Compare it to language. Is it present at birth? Are its symbols (facial expressions or words) arbitrary? Is one required to LEARN to "speak the language?" (c) Is ALL emotion and emotional expression biological? Explain.
8. Be prepared to EXPLAIN each of the following theories of emotion to a classmate, using examples: (a) James-Lange; (b) Cannon-Bard; (c) facial feedback; (d) 2-factor (cognitive labeling).
9. Take a close look at Schachter & Singer's "cognitive labeling theory" p. 442. Can you think of reallife examples where you or others may have misinterpreted your emotions? What are some of the implications or consequences of the possibility that we misattribute our emotions to the wrong source (e.g., when we think we are in love, angry, sad, aroused, attracted, etc.)?
10. Why do humans have emotions? How do emotions work? [This question brings up Schachter and Singer's work (among much else). Can you relate Schachter & Singer's work to cognitive psychotherapy?]