AP Psychology

Definition: the regulation of emotions to improve life
The EQ Factor
Emotions
· long neglected by psychology, perhaps we like to see ourselves as the ‘thinking’ species
· emotions are impulses to act and originate in the more primitive parts of the brain
· emotions and rationality (thoughts) can be in conflict
· emotions can hijack the brain
· the power of emotions comes from our evolutionary past: acting quickly had great survival value
The Ingredients of Emotional Intelligence

1. Knowing your emotions
Strategies

self-awareness
acceptance
learning to follow your instincts

2. Managing Emotions
Strategies
soothing yourself, self-talk, distraction shaking yourself out of negative emotional states
Example #1 Anger
- triggered by a sense of danger either physical or psychological
- you are energized by two waves of energy: a sudden burst of energy and a more general heightening of arousal levels
- anger builds on anger
- control can be achieved by identifying the thought that triggered the anger and challenging that thought
cooling down by distracting yourself
Example #2 Sadness
- people spend most effort on this emotion
- control can be achieved by shifting the mood through
1) exercise
2) cognitive reframing and
3) helping others

3. Motivation
- the master aptitude of emotional intelligence
Strategies
- learning to delay gratification
- stifling impulsiveness
4. Empathy
- people skills seen as a key ingredient in a successful life
- need to tune into the feelings of others as they signal what others need and want
5. Handling Relationships
Skills include:
-organizing others
-solving problems
-making connections
-understanding others

EQ Test

The Physiology of Hunger
Primarily a homeostatic system that maintains a genetically determined set point of body weight
Hunger regulated by stomach contractions and body chemistry that reflects energy levels
The hypothalamus is the key regulating organ
Changing body weight can trigger changes in the metabolic rates i.e. a resting rate of energy expenditure
Psychology of Hunger
Universally, people have a preference for salty, fatty and sweet tastes
Other tastes are conditioned and culturally specific
We respond to both external and internal cures
Individual difference exits as to how attuned you are to external cues

Eating Disorders
Normal homeostatic pressure to eat overwhelmed by the motive for abnormal thinness
Anorexia nervosa defined as being 15% below normal body weight accompanied with a perception that one is overweight
Bulimia nervosa involves repeated binge and purging behaviorsA key factor is the role of culturally influenced standards of thinness and perceptions about ideal body weight