Essay for my Psychology Class

Upon completion of this unit, students should be able to: 6. Compare and contrast the symptoms and treatment of different conditions, including stress and various abnormal behaviors. 6.1 List the emotions that have a universal facial expression. 6.2 Describe the three phases of the general adaptation syndrome, and provide an example that illustrates each phase. 6.3 Discuss how emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping contribute to the problem- solving approach to dealing with stress. 6.4 Describe how working conditions affect motives to achieve. 6.5 Describe three types of motivational conflicts people often face, and give an example of each. Unit Lesson Chapter 11: Emotion, Stress, and Health You look weird. Are you upset? Did I say something that irritated you? According to Wade, Tavris, and Garry (2014), one can often detect various emotions by looking at the facial expressions of others. Across various cultures, an individual can readily notice when someone is sad, angry, or happy simply by looking at the person’s face. In this chapter, you will examine research related to emotions and how these feelings impact various parts of the body, both mentally and physically. For instance, have you ever noticed someone’s lip curl before? Did you immediately think the individual was disgusted or feeling some form of contempt? Ekman and Friesen (1988) conducted research in ten countries and discovered that 75% of the respondents identified one’s expression of a unilateral lip curl to be a form of contempt. They maintained that in many Western and non-Western countries, this facial expression was viewed almost overwhelmingly as contempt. So, the next time you have a mean thought, just remember that it is written all over your face. Do you always look at someone in the eye when he/she is speaking to you? Eye contact is an integral component of communication. Research has discovered that there’s more than meets the eye when making eye contact. Hess (1975) conducted research in which he discovered that one’s pupil size is related to his or her level of arousal. He noticed that the pupils of most men and women became larger when viewing pictures of the opposite sex. On the other hand, when looking at pictures of the same sex, he noticed that the pupils actually constricted. Hess also observed these differences when individuals were seeking to solve problems. The pupils reached maximum dilation when the individual arrived at the solution. Thusly, the small dots in our eyes are impacted by various emotional and cognitive factors. What are your thoughts? The next time you see your significant other, go take a look in the mirror and examine your “dots.” Are all smiles created equally? Ekman (1985) argues that individuals display various smiles. He suggests that humans have different smiles for various situations: the embarrassment smile, the miserable smile, and the compliant smile, just to name a few. Have you ever noticed this? Does your smile change when you are attempting to put on a happy face? The next time someone smiles at you, begin to notice if there is a hidden message behind those lips.

Have you ever been flashed the “bird” while driving in traffic? You know, it is the nonverbal gesture in which someone gives you the “one-finger salute” in a not-so- pleasant manner. Nonverbal gestures can convey many messages in our society today. However, according to Axtell (1991), one must be careful when embracing certain gestures. For example, the extended index and pinky fingers in America signify a cry of victory for University of Texas Longhorn fans. On the other hand, this same sign equates to a curse in Africa. So, the next time you go to give someone a thumbs up at a ballgame, make sure that the recipient knows you are applauding a job well done! Are you stressed out? Do you feel as if the weight of the world is constantly on your shoulders? Many individuals today live in a constant state of stress. As you continue with your studies, begin to examine the relationship of stress and one’s emotions. Many lingering stressors can cause physical harm to our bodies. Do you know someone who suffers from extreme migraines? Has anyone in your family been diagnosed with high blood pressure? There is a very high probability that these individuals have not learned how to deal well with stress. Children are not immune to feeling stress either. Due to the many demands in school, extra-curricular activities, and community service, many children today are overscheduled, and this is causing undue stress. What happened to the days when children had stress- free lives and simply enjoyed childlike activities? Examine the children around you. Do they seem overwhelmed with all of the activities on their plates? As you conclude your examination of this chapter, begin to think about your coping mechanisms. Do you have a friend in which you can confide? How well do you handle small and big fires that seem to creep up on a daily basis? It is impossible to escape various stressors in life. Therefore, it becomes inherently important to seek available resources to deal with issues as they arise. Our reactions to stress will directly impact our overall well-being. Think about it. You cannot escape the stress, but you can embrace better ways in which to deal with it! Chapter 12: Motivation Are you driven by intrinsic or extrinsic satisfaction? What motivates you to reach your goals? Wade, Tavris, and Garry (2014) confront the issue of motivation in this chapter. As you read the text, you will quickly learn that human beings have several innate drives which influence one’s motivation in various areas: eating, love, sex, and achievement. Does size really matter? Although many cultures readily express disgust with overweight and obese individuals, in some cultures, the heavier one is, the more he/she is desired. According to Simmons (1998) a particular tribe in Nigeria values large, robust women. An overweight young lady is a sign of health, desirability, and prosperity. Many teenage girls take a sabbatical to the “fattening room” in order to increase their chances of catching the ideal mate. They gorge excessively on food to quickly increase their body fat and weight. What do you think about this tradition? Would you overeat to attract your soul mate? On the flip side of this controversy, some individuals are going to great lengths to lose weight. Many have developed

eating disorders in a quest to achieve the ideal, Barbie figure. As you read this section, weigh your thoughts on this topic. Does our society place too much emphasis on one’s weight? Has anyone ever told you that you look like your spouse or significant other? Research conducted by Zajonc, Adelmann, Murphy, and Niedenthal (1987) reveal that many couples grow to resemble each other after twenty-five years or more of marriage. Many factors are offered as explanation for why couples who seemingly look completely opposite when they first marry, begin to look more like brother and sister after a couple decades together. Diet is one factor that could contribute to this phenomenon. Many couples adopt the same eating habits, and thusly their diets could contribute to physical resemblances. Environmental factors come into play as well. If a couple lives in a tropical climate with great exposure to the sun, they will begin to develop similar skin patterns. However, the greatest factor argued by these scholars lies in facial musculature. Most of the couples studied shared common empathy for each other. The joys and sorrows felt by one spouse were shared by the other one as well. The various facial expressions shared over the years inflict an etching pattern on one’s muscles and produce skin tone changes. In essence, facial similarities emerge. So, what could this research mean for you? Do you want to look like your spouse in 20 years? Could advertising impact gender stereotyping? For instance, if there is a family shown in a commercial on television, is the father usually taller than the mother? Have you ever noticed that cooking ads usually involve women? Furthermore, have you viewed any commercials in which men worked in roles that were primarily dominated by women? According to Jones (1991), gender stereotypes have evolved over the years. What do you think? Have you noticed that women are now portraying different roles than they did 10 years ago? Challenge yourself to notice television and magazine ads this week. Do you think June Cleaver would successfully fit within a T- Mobile ad today? Do you know someone who has a high sex drive? What makes one individual crave sex while another can completely loath the mere thought of sexual intimacy? Many individuals possess various sexual fantasies and desires. Some fantasies might be considered extreme yet be perfectly within the law. On the other hand, some sexual drives are often viewed as seemingly bizarre and have legal ramifications attached. For instance, necrophilia involves the urge to have sex with a corpse. It has been discovered that many serial killers have had sex with their victims as a last form of control. As you read this section, think about your own sexual desires and motives. Would you be considered “normal” by society’s standards? As you conclude your study of this section, begin to examine your motives for achievement. What motivates you for success? Does a high-paying job equate to job satisfaction? Wade, Tavris, and Garry (2014) discuss several factors that influence our motivations for work. Both intrinsic and extrinsic rewards drive individuals. It is often astruggle to find a balance between the two. As you continue, reflect upon your pursuit of happiness. What makes you happy? According to Maslow, certain

physiological needs must first be met in order for us to attain higher levels of satisfaction. What do you think? Has your definition of happiness changed in recent years? References Axtell, R. E. (1991). Gestures: The do’s and taboos of body language around the world. New York, NY: Wiley. Ekman, P. (1985). Telling lies. New York, NY: Norton. Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1988). Who knows what about contempt: A reply to Izard and Haynes. Motivation and Emotion, 12, 17–22. Hess, E. H. (1975). The tell-tale eye: How your eyes reveal hidden thoughts and emotions. New York, NY: Van Nostrand. Jones, M. (1991). Gender stereotyping in advertisements. Teaching of Psychology, 18, 231-233. Simmons, A. M. (1998). Fat is where it’s at for women in Nigerian state’s tradition. Austin American- Statesman, A21. Wade, C., Tavris, C., & Garry, M. (2014). Psychology (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education. Zajonc, R. B., Adelmann, P. K., Murphy, S. T., & Niedenthal, P. M. (1987). Convergence in the physical appearance of spouses. Motivation and Emotion, 11, 335-346.