Emotion
Understanding Emotion
Paul Ekman: States of Emotion Moods, Traits, and Disorders
In this interview, Paul Ekman explains the differences between an emotion, a mood, a trait, and a disorder. He explains how each emotion the example he uses is anger has a mood, a trait, and a disorder associated with it. At the end he starts to explain other emotions such as fear and despair. Can you define the mood, trait, and disorder for some other basic emotions?
James-Lang vs. Cannon-Bard
Here, two students explain and give examples of the James-Lang and the Cannon-Bard theories of emotion. These theories propose that we take different paths to emotions and the behaviors associated with those emotions. How do these two theories differ from the Schachter-Singer Theory? Which of the three theories do you believe is most accurate and why?
Selye on Stress
Dr. Hans Selye discusses what stress is, why hes interested in it, what it causes, and what can be done about it. What is Selyes concept of stress? What is his personal approach to dealing with stress? What does he mean by General Adaptation Syndrome, and what are its three stages?
Defense Mechanism Freud (Legendado)
Freud believed that people use ego defense mechanisms to keep disturbing thoughts and desires out of consciousness. This student project demonstrates examples of these defense mechanisms. Are they accurately named and demonstrated? If you were to make a similar video, how would you demonstrate these defense mechanisms in a clear, easy to understand fashion?
Emotion-Provoking Portraits
This video presents The Chameleon project, software that reads and responds to emotions. These digital portraits are presented both as art, and as a way to help scientists discover how people react to certain displays of emotion. Can emotional reactions really be measured by an algorithm? What types of issues can be studied with this software?
Understanding Your Emotions
This is an instructional video from Coronet films, explaining why people respond with different emotions to the same event. The clip goes on to explain that we can be conditioned in various ways display emotions that may not naturally occur in a situation. Given that this was made in 1950, what information, if any, do you find to be outdated? What information has not changed? How can we be emotionally conditioned in every day life, as opposed to experiments?
Toward Emotional Maturity
In another instructional video from the 1950s, a teenage girl reflects on her emotional growth, remembering episodes in which her love, fear, and anger were not always under control. By remembering these times her emotions got the best of her, she is able to keep her emotions in control and decides not to go parking with her boyfriend. How is this video attempting to play on the emotions of the viewer?
Basic Emotions
Basic Emotions Trailer
This trailer created for the short film Basic Emotions, demonstrates several emotions, either in the voice-over or flashed on the screen. Do you believe all the emotions mentioned here are really basic emotions? Do they all meet the criteria for this category? Are there any emotions that are not addressed that you believe fall into this category?
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a pituitary hormone released by both men and women during sex, and by women while giving birth and nursing. This video, a students senior thesis project, attempts to connect the scientific occurrence of oxytocin with the abstract idea of love. Is love an emotion or an attitude? Why does adult love depend on a hormone that is also related to the mother-infant relationship?
Dealing With The Shame of Unemployment
Two people talk about how they are coping with the shame and embarrassment of losing their jobs. Shame, embarrassment, and hope are all discussed as frequent emotions that accompany the loss of a job. While shame and embarrassment are repeatedly paired in this video, it has also been shown that there is a correlation between shame and guilt. Is that shown at all here? Why or why not?
Dont Cry for Me, Im a Cubs Fan
Todd Murray loves the Chicago Cubs although it has been almost 100 years since they won the World Series. In this black and white skit, Todd shows his strong emotional ties, and depression after the season ends. He tells viewers Dont cry for me, Im already dead. Why are sports fans strongly affected by their teams loss? What does Todds quote Dont cry for me, Im already dead reflect?
Strong Bad Email: Crying
Sadness is the emotional reaction to a sense of loss, and crying is one of the behavioral signs of sadness. Is sadness the predominant emotion on display in this clip? Why does the drawing of the one-legged dog cause such strong reactions?
How to Read Body Language: Flirting
The clip discusses how to exude appropriate body language, and positive cues to others. David and Natalie demonstrate body language common in social settings. How can body language function to establish relationships with others? Did the actors portray open and receptive body language well? Are there any other aspects of body language that would be appropriate in a social or business setting?
Emotion and Animals
Animals Make Us Human: Temple Grandin
In her groundbreaking and best-selling book Animals in Translation, Temple Grandin drew on her own experience with autism as well as her distinguished career as an animal scientist to deliver extraordinary insights into how animals think, act, and feel. How does Grandin relate her emotions to animals?
Food or Security? Harlows Study on Monkeys Attachment
Classic footage of Harlows surrogate mother studies demonstrate the monkeys clinging to the cloth doll and gaining food from the wire doll. A narrator describes the study findings. Why did the monkeys choose the wire doll? What purpose did the cloth doll serve?
Elephants Mourning
Just how aware are these elephants? Some scientists think they may cry when sad, just like you and me. In this clip we see elephants coming upon the bones of the matriarch of their clan. We see them interact with their find and hear a voiceover explaining their actions. How is this similar to the way humans mourn? How is it different? Is there some special significance to the way the elephants touch the bones with their hind feet?
Emotion and Popular Culture
The New Zealand and Tonga Rugby Team Haka
In the traditional Maori haka, warriors prepare for battle by engaging in stereotyped grimaces, vocalizations, and battle moves. Here, a contemporary rugby team uses the haka to prepare for games. How does appropriating a warrior tradition help the team within this context? How does it effect the emotions of the participants versus the emotions of the viewers?
Sesame Street: Ocean Emotion
In this short clip, Elmo sings about different animals that live in the ocean, and wonders what they are feeling. From his observations, Elmo decides that the animals are feeling love, pride, hunger, and happiness. Is this a good synopsis of feelings and emotion for a young child? If you had to describe emotion to someone in early childhood, what would you say?
The Beatles Cant Buy Me Love
This music video is of The Beatles famous song Cant Buy Me Love. The idea of love and money is something that comes up frequently in music, as well as in literature, theater, and many other forms of art. Which is a better predictor of happiness love or money? Why? What are some of the moderate to good predictors of subjective happiness?
If I Lose You – Soraya
Songs of sorrow are frequent in certain genres of music. The music video for the ballad If I lose you demonstrates hyperbole or overstatement of emotion. This clip can be used to introduce our cultures strong aversion to loss in an informal sense, and the intensity of emotion associated with loss. Which lyrics best indicate her feelings toward losing her love?
Lies, Lying, and Microemotions
Lie Detection Through Micro Expressions
In this short clip, Professor Paul Ekman explains what micro expressions are, and helps us understand how to look for them. Ekman believes that micro expressions are the most valid guide available to understanding peoples true feelings. Do you agree or do you think this is an oversimplification? Can we really glean true emotion from such small facial movements?
Lie to Me TV Show Promo
The fictional TV show Lie to Me features Dr. Cal Lightman, a deception expert who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to discover not only if someone is lying, but why. Based on the real-life scientific discoveries of Paul Ekman, the series follows Lightman and his team as they assist law enforcement. What does Dr. Lightman say about a frightened reaction? For full-length video of the show, visit the Lie to Me website.
The Invention of Lying
In this movie starring Ricky Gervais, we are introduced to a world where no one knows what it means to lie. When Gervais character discovers the ability to lie, his whole life starts to change. If you were to meet someone who didnt know what it meant to lie, how would you explain it to them? How could you teach them to detect when someone else is lying?
Morgan and Fred Take a Lie Detector Test
Hosts of a local show in Charlotte, North Carolina test out a lie detector sent to them as part of a promotion for a new game show. How accurate are the descriptions they give for how the machine will work? How might their surroundings affect the accuracy of the results?
