Developmental psychology.pdf

334 Motivation and Emotion
14
Figure 12.16
Tension and Performance.
Performance on an intelligence test
improved up to a point as tension
increased, but with still further
tension it dropped almost to the initial
level (Wood & Hokanson, 1965).
I
Q_
/f Ш
J
/
Tension
(heart rat
Л/ >
\
P< srform зпсе^
j
12
10
8
6 с та
О)
4 х
2
/
0
-2
Induced tension
Answer to Figure 12.14.
The expression indicated:
(A) happiness at the unexpected
arrival of a close friend not seen for
several weeks, (B) fear in response to
a sharp reprimand for not behaving in
accordance with instructions, and
(C) disgust at the sudden awareness
that a raw egg has been dropped in
her hand. Some answers given by
people judging these photographs
were: (A) receiving a compliment;
seeing something she liked; (B) being
stuck by a pin; feeling something
dropped down her back; (C) receiving
an electric shock; touching a frog.
Arousal and Performance When we speak of the magnitude of an emotional
response, rather than the feeling involved, we are referring to arousal level, which can
be significantly related to behavior. If arousal is extremely high, the person may "go
to pieces," reacting wildly or becoming unable to move, as if he or she no longer had
cerebral control. In fear, some animals demonstrate tonic immobility, in which they
are "frozen in their tracks." This condition has survival value, for the animals thereby
avoid detection by predators.
It has been suggested that the optimal level of arousal for human performance
depends on the complexity of the task involved. This idea is called the Yerkes-Dodson
Law, which states that high arousal is most appropriate for a relatively simple task,
such as running away from something. Lower arousal is more facilitating when the
task is more complex, such as learning German or writing poetry. This idea is an interesting
one, seems reasonable, and has some support. But further investigation of
task complexity and the interaction between feelings and cognition is needed (Fantino,
1973; Royce & Diamond, 1980; Figure 12.16).
We should add that Dawn and Stephen, much aroused in each other's presence,
soon began spending almost every day together. Within two months, Stephen
proposed marriage. Making a proposal is a relatively simple act, however, perhaps in
keeping with his high arousal. Dawn replied that she could not decide so quickly, and
Stephen was satisfied to wait. A half-hour later, she answered, "Yes." She said she was
pleased to have made the decision.
THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES
Emotion is such a comprehensive concept, involving feelings, physiology, and behavior,
that some research psychologists consider it too broad to be useful. Like the concept
of instinct, it has been employed too often to explain too much with too little precision.
Answer to Figure 12.15.
The expression indicated:
(A) happiness in response to a friend,
(B) fear at the sight of a stranger from
another culture, and (C) disgust at
the sight of someone eating canned
food.
Classical Views
Modern investigators tend instead to focus on one aspect of emotion, such as the behavioral
component, or sometimes two, but not all three. What is needed is a theory
of emotions that can integrate our knowledge of the diverse components and, at the
same time, guide and stimulate research.