Learning activity 5 Flashcards
What are emotions: Physiological factors:
strong emotions are generally accompanied by physiological changes. For example, fear increases heart rate, blood pressure, adrenaline secretions, and blood sugar levels but slows digestion and pupil dilation
What are emotions: Nonverbal reactions:
there is a connection between nonverbal reactions and verbalizing emotions. Nonverbal behaviour can also induce emotional states. External reactions Nonverbal reactions could be blushing, sweating, or shaking, and involve behavior a distinctive.
What are emotions: Cognitive interpretations/reappraisal
the label and individual apply to these physical symptoms determine whether symptoms will be experienced or interpreted. How we think about or interpret an event affects how it is experienced.
Reappraisal is rethinking the meaning of emotionally charged events in ways that alter their emotional impact.
What are emotions: Verbal expressions
sometimes words are necessary to express feelings. “I’m angry” is clearer and more helpful than stomping out of the room.
What are emotions: Primary and mixed emotions
primary emotions are basic emotions such as anger, joy, fear, and sadness. Mixed emotions are feeling two or more conflicting emotions at the same time.
What are emotions: Intense and mild emotions
emotions with different degrees of intensity. Can often be an understatement and an overstatement.
What are emotions: intensity of emotions
when people can’t talk about their emotions constructively, it can result in a higher intensity of emotions such as anxiety and depression, and misdirected aggression. Emotion coaching and emotion dismissing. The inability to constructively express emotions can lead to social/ emotional problems.
Influences on emotional expression: Personality
extroverted people report more positive emotions than do less extroverted individuals. Likewise, people with neurotic personalities, who tend to worry, feel anxious or be apprehensive, report more negative emotions. However, it does not have to govern your communication satisfaction. Personality traits and personality types influence emotional expression.
Influences on emotional expression: culture
while people from different cultures generally experience the same emotions, the similar events can generate different feelings.
Influences on emotional expression: Gender
biological sex and gender riles shape how women and men experience and express their emotions. For example, women are more attuned to emotions than men, both within and across cultures. (not really covered in exam).
Influences on emotional expression: social conventions
refer to the notion of acting in ways that are acceptable within our society. For instance, while expressions of emotion are rare, those that are shared are usually positive. Communicators are often reluctant to send messages that embarrass or threaten the “face” of others.
Influences on emotional expression: Social media/ Fear of disclosure
- communicators generally express more emotion online than in face-to-face contexts. Can be good but also hazardous (such as venting) to interpersonal relations and it may not make you feel better
- our society’s discouragement of emotional expression makes self-disclosure emotionally risky. Expressions of vulnerability or affection are subject to misinterpretation.
Influences on emotional expression: emotional contagion
the process by which emotions are transferred from one person to another. Our emotions are influenced by the feelings of those around us.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: Recognize your feelings
some people are acutely aware of their emotional states and use that knowledge to make important decisions. By contrast, people with low affective orientation are usually unaware of their emotional states and tend to regard feelings as useless or unimportant. Being aware and/or being able to pinpoint emotions can help you understand and cope with their meaning.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: recognize when to act on your feelings:
understanding the difference between having feelings and acting them out can help you express yourself constructively in tough situations. For instance, if you are upset with a friend is it possible to explore why you feel upset? Expressing your feeling might open the door to resolving what’s bothering you.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: expand your the emotional vocabulary
relying on small vocabulary is as limiting as using only a few terms to describe colors. Likewise, it can also be overly broad to use a term like good or great. When expressing your feelings make sure that both you and your partner understand that your feeling is centered on a specific set of circumstances, not the whole relationship.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: express multiple feelings
in a case of mixed emotions don’t just communicate one of them, consider the different reactions you would get by showing all your emotions
Guidelines for expressing emotions: consider when and where to express your feelings
the first flush of a strong feeling isn’t usually the best time to speak out. Wait until you have thought through exactly what you want to say and how. Dealing with your emotions can take time and effort. Ensure the recipient is ready to hear you out before you begin.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: accept responsibility for your own feelings
it is important to ensure that your language reflects that you are responsible for your feelings. Instead of saying “you make me angry,” say, “I’m getting angry” people don’t make us like or dislike them, and believing that they do denies the responsibility that we have our own emotions.
Guidelines for expressing emotions: Be mindful of the communication channel
the different communication channels we use can make a difference in how others interpret our message, especially when communicating our emotions. For example, emotion and meaning can be easily lost through text.
Managing difficult emotions: Facilitative emotions
emotions that contribute to effective functioning (positive)
Managing difficult emotions: debilitative emotions
emotions that prevent a person from functioning effectively (negative).
Managing difficult emotions: rumination
is dwelling persistently on negative thoughts that, in turn, intensify negative feelings.
sources of debilitating emotions: physiology
some debilitative feelings come from communication traits like shyness, aggressiveness, and assertiveness which are rooted in biology. However, biology isn’t destiny.
sources of debilitating emotions: emotional memory
the sources of some threats lie in emotional memory. Seemingly harmless events can trigger debilitative feelings if they bear the slightest resemblance to troublesome experiences from the past.
sources of debilitating emotions: Self-Talk
some debilitative feelings come from how we label events and situations. It’s not the events themselves but the beliefs they hold about those events.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Perception
the irrational belief that a worthwhile communicator should be able to handle every situation with complete confidence and skill.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Approval
the irrational belief that it is vital to win the approval of virtually every person a communicator deals with.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Should
the inability to distinguish between what is and what should be.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Overgeneralization
(1) irrational beliefs in which conclusions (usually negative) are based on limited evidence or (2) exaggerated shortcomings.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Causation
the irrational belief that emotions are caused by others and not by the person who experiences them.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Helplessness
the irrational belief that satisfaction in life is determined by forces beyond one’s control.
Irrational thinking and debilitative emotions fallacy of… Catastrophic expectations
the irrational belief that the worst possible outcome will probably occur.
Minimizing debilitative emotions: monitor your emotional reactions:
the first step is to recognize your debilitative emotions. One way to recognize your emotions is through physiological stimuli: butterflies in the stomach, racing heart, etc.
Minimizing debilitative emotions: Note the activating events
once you are aware of how you are feeling, the next step is to figure out what caused or triggered it. (i.e., Series of incidents, being accused unfair of foolish behavior, or being rejected by someone)
Minimizing debilitative emotions: Record your self-talk (the non-verbal process of thinking)
this is the point where you link the activating event to the feeling. It is important to eliminate debilitative emotions by doing so. Identify thoughts that led to the debilitative emotions.
Minimizing Debilitative emotions: Dispute your irrational beliefs
reappraising your irrational beliefs mean stepping back and trying to see the errors in your thinking process.
