PowerPoint Presentation to accompany Looking Out, Looking In, Tenth Edition

Chapter 4: Emotions: Thinking, Feeling, and Acting

Presentation prepared by Dr. Michael Pearson, Gretchen Gill, and Tim Scanlon of West Chester University
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CHAPTER 4

Emotions:Thinking, Feeling, and Acting

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Emotions: Thinking, Feeling, and Acting

What are Emotions? Verbal Expression Types of Emotions Influences on Emotional Expression Guidelines for Expressing Emotions Managing Difficult Emotions
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What are Emotions?

Physiological Changes
When a person has strong emotions, many bodily changes occur. Proprioceptive stimuli: they are activated by the movement of internal tissues Increased heartbeat Rise in blood pressure Dilation of the pupils
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What are Emotions?

Nonverbal Reactions
Observable changes
blushing sweating distinctive facial expression posture

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What are Emotions?

Cognitive Interpretations
The mind plays an important role in determining how we feel.

Verbal Expression
Labeling our emotions can be very difficult:
e.g. Is someone trembling because of fear or because of excitement?

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Types of Emotions
Primary and Mixed Emotions
Primary Emotions- basic emotions (inside the perimeter of the wheel) Mixed Emotions- a combination of primary emotions (outside the wheel)

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Types of Emotions
Intense and Mild Emotions
This model shows the importance not only of choosing the right emotional family when expressing yourself, but also of describing the strength of the feeling.

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Influences on Emotional Expression

Culture
People from all over have the same emotions. No matter where theyre from, people feel happy, sad, surprised, angry, and disgusted. However, the same events do not always bring out the same emotions. Individualistic cultures: people feel comfortable revealing their feelings to others who are close to them (e.g. United States & Canada) Collectivistic cultures: discourage expression of any negative emotions that might upset relationships among people who belong to the in-group (e.g. Japan and India)
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Influences on Emotional Expression

Gender
Females - express positive emotions and feelings of vulnerability Males - rarely express their feelings but might reveal strengths Factors in expressing feelings - gender, being familiar with the partner, and difference in power.

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Influences on Emotional Expression

Social Conventions and Social Rules
In the US, the unwritten rule is the discouragement of showing your emotions in public. Emotions that are shared are usually positive (however, never too much positive emotion). Teachers and managers are expected to keep their emotions under control.

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Influences on Emotional Expression

Emotional Contagion
Emotional Contagion: the process by which emotions are transferred from one person to another. Emotions are infectious e.g. If we hang out with a grouch, then we ourselves get put into a bad mood

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Influences on Emotional Expression

Fear of Self-Disclosure
Revealing your emotions can seem risky A person who musters up enough courage to share his or her feelings runs the risk of an unpleasant consequence. For example: a wink and smile unwanted romance confession of uncertainty weakness emotional honesty people feel uncomfortable
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Guidelines for Expressing Emotions

Recognize Your Feelings
Answer this question, How do you feel? Monitor your nonverbal behavior. Monitor your thoughts as well as your actions.

Think About How to Describe Feelings

Use single words: excited or depressed Whats happening to you: Im on top of the world What youd like to do: I feel like giving up
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Guidelines for Expressing Emotions

Im mad at you for not showing up. Im also disappointed I didnt see you. I get mad when you flirt. I care about you a lot, and I hate to think that you dont feel the same.

Share Multiple Feelings

Recognize the Difference Between Feeling, Talking, and Acting

Feeling something, talking about it, and then acting on that

feeling can sometimes be disastrous or liberating Understand the consequences of your actions
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Guidelines for Expressing Emotions

Accept responsibility for your feelings
Instead of, You make me so angry say, I am feeling angry

Consider when and where to express your feelings

Wait until you have thought out carefully how you might express your feelings in a way that would be most likely to be heard.
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Managing Difficult Emotions

Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions
Facilitative Emotions - emotions that contribute to effective functioning Debilitative Emotions - emotions that prevent a person from functioning effectively

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Managing Difficult Emotions

Thoughts Cause Feelings
It is not events such as meeting strangers or being jilted by a lover that cause people to feel bad, but rather the beliefs they hold about these events. Interpretations that people make of an event, during the process of self-talk, determine feelings. Event Being called names Being called names Thought Ive done something wrong My friend must be sick Feeling hurt, upset concern, sympathy

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Managing Difficult Emotions

Irrational Thinking and Debilitative Emotions
Many debilitative emotions come from accepting irrational thoughts: 1. The Fallacy of Perfection 2. The Fallacy of Approval 3. The Fallacy of Shoulds 4. The Fallacy of Overgeneralization 5. The Fallacy of Causation 6. The Fallacy of Helplessness 7. The Fallacy of Catastrophic Expectations
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Managing Difficult Emotions

Minimizing Debilitative Emotions
1. 2. 3. 4. Monitor your emotional reactions. Note the activating event. Record your self-talk. Dispute your irrational beliefs.

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