TOK Lesson on Emotion - Mr. Cokerdem
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Transcript TOK Lesson on Emotion - Mr. Cokerdem
TOK Guest Speaker:
Mr. Cokerdem (Mr. C.)
1) Gain a deeper understanding of emotion
2) Explore how emotion and rationality
interact
3) Consider ways we can enhance our lives
and daily experiences based on research and
reflection
Psychological
Definition - a
complex state of
feeling that results
in physical and
psychological
changes that
influence thought
and behavior.
Key words: feelings,
changes, influence
thought and
behavior
So, how many
emotions are there?
Many….
Yet, there are about
6 that seem to exist
across cultures:
anger, disgust, fear,
happiness, sadness,
and surprise.
(Paul Ekman,
anthropologist)
Can you spot
them?
Anger?
Disgust?
Fear?
Happiness?
Sadness?
Surprise?
Questions:
1) How does emotion relate to knowledge?
2) Are there ways you think emotion enhances knowledge? If
so, how?
3) Are there ways you think emotion hinders accurate
knowledge? If so, how?
(Note: hinder = to detract from, take away from
or make something more difficult to achieve)
Instructions:
First, reflect as individuals for 3-5 minutes.
Then, share/discuss in groups, 5-7 minutes.
Finally, we’ll de-brief as a class.
Emotion: a complex state of feeling that results in physical and
psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.
What did you discuss?
Key insights?
Key questions?
Just curious:
Did anyone discuss the degree of emotions? In other
words, their intensity?
Did anyone discuss scenarios where a person feels
none of the 6 main emotions at any one time?
What do we think about that?
“Significant emotion (passion) and rational
thinking tend to be mutually exclusive.”
Can we accept that statement?
If so, let’s explore that a bit, shall we?
Do I sound like Mr. Cannon yet? Lord help me if I
start sounding like Mr. Byck….
As passionate emotion increases, our ability to make
decisions that we will look back on and agree are
good decisions has a strong tendency to fail.
Consider the things we say:
A “hot-headed” person is rather emotional and
likely to make rash decisions.
A person with a “cool-head” makes thoughtful,
considered decisions.
Emotion is a chemical state in our brains that we
experience as basic 'feelings'.
Those same chemicals inhibit our higher cognitive
capabilities and limit what we call rational thought.
Two young lovers in the “heat of the moment”
Fight or flight response:
A) “Crime of passion”
▪ homicides due to extreme anger or jealousy;
▪ “temporary” insanity
B) Running from the police when they have a gun and say “freeze!”
C) Hit and run driver
Can you think of decisions that are affected as emotional
response increases? (Think and talk amongst yourselves.)
Also, would you tend to think these decisions are less “rational?”
How do you help someone in an
emotional state make a rational decision?
Help them calm down
BUT, do not just say 'calm down‘ since that is a
rational appeal.
Instead, speak to the emotions with emotional words.
Then slowly become less emotional.
If you have time, the simplest approach is just to wait.
▪ Extreme emotions often do not last and the person will
eventually cool down.
Any actors in the room? Care for a simulation?
How do you get someone to become less likely to
make a rational decision? Now, we’re talking!!!
Drum roll please….
Answer: get them into an emotional state!
Enter the salesperson:
A sales person will get their customers:
▪ Excited, Hopeful, Lustful
We can’t forget the politicians:
They routinely invoke:
▪ Fear, nationalism, and the desire to help their fellow humans – sometimes all in one speech!
▪ Of course, Venezuelan politics is all about rationality. No emotion here….
And, of course, Las Vegas – and any casino:
Name of the game – get the customers drunk so they’ll spend
more money!
▪ Alcohol is free, especially once you start winning money
▪ Also, if you win big, you get free rooms and meals.
▪ Why? So you’ll stay and lose the money the next day.
Paul Ekman (the guy behind the faces)
“The inescapability of emotional response” – we
are wired to respond emotionally
Appraisal – recognize the situations that are apt to
create an emotional response or at least recognize the
emotion when it happens
Impulse – feel the impulse of that emotion and what is
propelling you to do (what action to take)
Increase the gap - before you act, work on increasing
the time so that you can deliberately choose how to
best respond
Let’s take a look!
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xpo3bz_paul-ekman-on-the-inescapability-of-emotionalresponse_news#.UZavN7Ovhow
Emotion affects decision-making
Even when we know what causes our mood, we
still are affected by the mood and it influences
our decision-making
Just type in: “scientists explore effects of
emotion” – you’ll see the link:
http://phys.org/news10395.html
"While anxiety triggers a preference for
options that are safer and provide a sense of
control, sadness triggers a preference for
options that are more rewarding and
comforting.”
Let’s read this article together
To get it quickly, google “how are happiness
and learning connected”
It’s the first article under “edutopia”
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/happinesslearning-connection-rebecca-alber
Reactions?
Take some time to cement today’s lesson.
In no particular order or format, record in writing
some “ah-ha” moments or anything you felt
about today’s lesson that triggered interesting,
different, or potentially valuable thoughts.
Rank your top 3 or 4.
Then, let’s do a quick class “share out.” That
means you get to pick any one item you shared.
Identifying 3 or 4 ahead of time will help us avoid
duplicates.
An interesting theory on depression:
Perhaps, it is an evolutionary response that initially
developed because in some cases, it can encourage
one to ponder and analyze complex issues.
Google “depression evolutionary roots”
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=de
pressions-evolutionary
Thanks Everyone!!!
And, remember →