EMOTIONS “Emotions are our most powerful decision

making force” Agree or disagree?

EXAMPLES You have an important piece of work to

do next week but it’s you only have 2 levels to go in your playstation game.

Mum has made chicken and steamed vegetables for dinner but dad asks do you want to stop at Macca’s on the way home.

You told your younger sister you would take her to the park but your friends are going to a party.

You are doing your homework when your favourite TV show comes on.

WHAT DOES THE SCIENCE SAY? “emotions may be fundamental to

dealing with equal options and decisions that do not have a clear rational basis for choosing”

A totally emotional decision is very fast in comparison to a rational decision.

Decisions that start with logic may need emotions to enable the final selection

Intensity of emotions can override rational decision making in cases where it is clearly needed

CASE STUDY Anotonio Damassio, a neurologist, studied

a man named Elliot who suffered an injury which damaged his prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain responsible for decision making.

Elliot found it very difficult to make even basic decisions, like what colour socks to wear in the morning.

This provides evidence that our emotions are involved in nearly every decision that we make, even when we think we are being logical.

A FINAL THOUGH "The essential difference between

emotion and reason is that emotion leads to action while reason leads to conclusions."

‘EMOTIONAL RESPONSES’ Everything we do in life is based on

the ‘responses’ that we have. Emotions provide a more powerful

stimuls for decision making. Outdoor emotions can evoke

emotional responses, more so than intellectual responses.

Do you agree? Lets do a test?

BRAINSTORM As a class, lets think up as many

emotions as we can. Try to think of all the different possible

ways you can feel, or have felt before. You will use this list to help you

complete the next activity, so the more the better.

TIME TO DO SOMETHING! Divide your page into two columns. Title your first column ‘Scenery’ and

number down to 17. Title your second column ‘animals’ and

number down to 15. For each image that comes on the

screen, write the one word (or phrase) you could use to describe it.

AND

HOW DID YOU GO? Look at you list of words. How many of these are ‘emotions’ How many are intellectual –

descriptions. Pick your 3 favourite locations. What words did you write for these? Based on your own research, what type

of responses do you think outdoor environments trigger.

MAIN POINT Nature has a powerful impact on

humans. Why? Nature evokes emotional responses. Emotional responses are powerful

influences. Emotional responses determine how we

act. So, nature can influence the way we act.

SIMILARITIES Some of these images invoke similar

responses. Why? They may symbolise certain ideas or

values that we all understand. Many images are deliberately used to

convey messages to us all. Eg – ad for Australia would include

what? Sorbent ad.

DIFFERENCES Some images invoke very different

responses. Example? Why? Everybody has different, values,

upbringing, experiences, personalities.

MAKING THE MOST OF IT Why is it important that we have responses to

nature, and get others to do it too? Usually when we go to a natural environment,

we are doing some kind of activity. What could you do to get the most out of your

experiences with nature? Spend a longer amount of time in the place. Sit in one place for a while, and just look, or

listen. Take photographs. Draw or write. Return to the same place again.

NATURAL IMAGES AND THE MEDIA Nature is able to stir up very powerful

emotions in humans. This makes it a very useful tool for

people who want to get a certain message across.

Can you think of any ads, stories, movies that have used any of these images.