INFLUENCE OF EMOTION

Consider the following scenario:

As he makes his online travel reservations, Robert is overcome with a sense of anxiety. His fear of flying fills him with dread at the thought of taking an airplane. Robert’s appraisal of flying (his interpretation of the situation) instills an irrational fear. Robert mentions his concern to a close friend who works for the airline industry. His friend shares the following information—travel by air is one of the safest modes of transportation. The drive to the airport is statistically far more dangerous than a flight. Robert’s fear decreases in light of the new information. This is an example of a cognitive process helping an individual to regulate an emotional response.

For this Discussion, consider how cognitive processes can influence regulation of emotional responses. Also consider the influence of appraisal on emotional responses. Then think about how conscious and unconscious cognitive processes influence emotion.

RESOURCES

Be sure to review the Learning Resources before completing this activity.
Click the weekly resources link to access the resources. 

WEEKLY RESOURCES

With these thoughts in mind:

Post a brief explanation of how cognitive processes can influence regulation of emotional responses. Then explain the influence of appraisal on emotional responses. Finally, provide one example of a conscious cognitive process and one example of an unconscious cognitive process and explain how each influence emotion. Justify your response using the Learning Resources and current literature.

Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.

References

• Power, M., & Dalgleish, T. (2008). Towards an integrated cognitive theory of emotion: The SPAARS approach. In, Cognition and emotion: From order to disorder Download Cognition and emotion: From order to disorder(2nd ed., pp. 129–167). London, England: Psychology Press.
  Cognition and Emotion: From Order to Disorder by Power, M., & Dalgleish, T. Copyright 2008 by Psychology Press, Ltd. Reprinted by permission of Psychology Press, Ltd., via the Copyright Clearance Center.
• Barrett, L. F., & Russell, J. A. (1998). Independence and bipolarity in the structure of current affect. Journal of Personality and Social PsychologyLinks to an external site., 74(4), 967–984.
• Cacioppo, J. T., & Gardner, W. L. (1999). Emotion. Annual Review of PsychologyLinks to an external site., 50, 191–214.
• Carstensen, L. L., & Mikels, J. A. (2005). At the intersection of emotion and cognition: Aging and the positivity effect. Current Directions in Psychological ScienceLinks to an external site., 14(3), 117–121.
• Mauss, I. B., Levenson, R. W., McCarter, L., Wilhelm, F. H., & Gross, J. J. (2005). The tie that binds? Coherence among emotion experience, behavior, and physiology. EmotionLinks to an external site., 5(2), 175–190.
• Roseman, I. J., & Evdokas, A. (2004). Appraisals cause experienced emotions: Experimental evidence. Cognition & EmotionLinks to an external site., 18(1), 1–28.
• Siemer, M., Mauss, I., & Gross, J. J. (2007). Same situation—Different emotions: How appraisals shape our emotions. EmotionLinks to an external site., 7(3), 592–600.
• Storbeck, J., & Clore, G. L. (2007). On the interdependence between cognition and emotion. Cognition and EmotionLinks to an external site., 21(6), 1212–1237.
• Williams, L. E., Bargh, J. A., Nocera, C. C., & Gray, J. R. (2009). The unconscious regulation of emotion: Nonconscious reappraisal goals modulate emotional reactivity. EmotionLinks to an external site., 9(6), 847–854.