Chapter 4
Emotions, Stress and Human Relations
Research on Emotions
Ignored emotion, preferred rational thought
Amygdala is linked to fear and anger
Positive emotions, left hemisphere; negative emotions, right hemisphere
Brain chemicals affect emotions
Facial expressions affect emotions
Thoughts Influence Emotions
Activating Event
Cognitive Appraisal
Self-talk
Irrational Beliefs
Catastrophizing – making it worse than it is (Bad omen?)Overgeneralization – Will it always be this way? (always or never)
Or just often?
The myth of causation.Albert Ellis – ABC modelA=activating event; C=consequent emotion; B=intervening beliefs/thoughtsAre you afraid of hurting someone’s feelings?Letting the pot boil (over).
Irrational BeliefsThe need for approval
Everyone must like me
Leads to compromise
Compromise leads to confusion/cognitive dissonance
The tyranny of shouldsJust world hypothesis
If we try to live right, we should be blessed or rewarded.
People get what they deserveBlaming the victim
Irrational Beliefs
PerfectionismI should be able to handle this.
Don’t get help.
Don’t accept yourself.
Myth of helplessness.I can’t do anything about the situation.
Addressing Irrational Beliefs
Self-talk
Cognitive therapy
Sadness: Are you depressed?Are you physically tired for no reason?Do you feel worthless?Do you feel hopeless?Have you lost interest in activities?Have you lost interest in people?Have your eating or sleeping habits changed?Can you think clearly? Or do you feel “foggy”?
What causes sadness & depression?
Life events (loss, grief)
Depressive realism
Pessimistic thought patterns
Physical exhaustion
Depression is contagious
Guilt
Unforgiveness, grudges
What to do about sadness.Cognitively appraise the problemTreat yourselfExerciseSocializeLaugh, find something funnyDistract, read a good bookAccomplish something
Small chore
Help someone elseIf non of these are working, or you can’t make yourself do them, get help.
Anger
Anger is an emotion.
Aggression is a behavior.
Direct Expression of Anger
ConstructiveCount to 10
Do not ambush
Choose your battles
DestructivePhysical aggression
Verbal aggression, e.g., name-calling
Relational aggression, e.g., gossip,slander
Indirect Expression of AngerDestructive
Getting drunk, doing drugsTearing up propertyDisplacementCatharsis (letting off steam) does not work very well
ConstructiveExerciseRelaxationPsychological Detachment (The situation, but not your reaction, may be out of your control.)Cognitive restructuring )accentuate the positive)Prayer and meditation
Express Your Anger
Do express your anger.
Unexpressed anger does not go away.
Over time it will build up and cause trouble.
Special cases.Anger with yourself.
Anger with God.
Happiness
What is it and what factors are related to it?
Subjective Well-Being
self-perceived happiness or satisfaction with life
used along with measures of objective well-being
physical and economic indicators to evaluate people’s quality of life
Experiencing EmotionDoes money buy happiness?
Year
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Averageper-person
after-tax incomein 1995 dollars Percentage
describingthemselves asvery happy
$20,000$19,000$18,000$17,000$16,000$15,000$14,000$13,000$12,000$11,000$10,000
$9,000$8,000$7,000$6,000$5,000$4,000
1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Percentage very happy
Personal income
Experiencing Emotion
Feel-good, do-good phenomenonpeople’s tendency to be helpful when already in a good mood
Experiencing Emotion
Values and life satisfaction
MoneyLove
1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00 7.00Life satisfaction
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
-0.2
-0.4
Importancescores
Experiencing Emotion
Adaptation-Level Phenomenontendency to form judgments relative to a “neutral” level
brightness of lights
volume of sound
level of income
defined by our prior experience
Relative Deprivationperception that one is worse off relative to those with whom one compares oneself
Experiencing Emotion
Researchers Have Found ThatHappy People Tend to
Have high self-esteem (in individualistic countries)
Be optimistic, outgoing, and agreeable
Have close friendships or a satisfyingmarriage
Have work and leisure that engagetheir skills
Have a meaningful religious faith
Sleep well and exercise
However, Happiness Seems Not MuchRelated to Other Factors, Such as
Age
Gender (women are more often depressed, but also more often joyful)
Education levels
Parenthood (having children or not)
Physical attractiveness
Other Factors Affecting Happiness
Perceived personal controlSet and achieve realistic goals
Optimism
Genetics?Left hemisphere, frontal lobe
Easy temperament
How to be happier
Keep busy with challenging, but manageable tasks
Count your blessings
Find good relationships, social networks
Look on the bright side
Exercise (regularly)
Laugh!
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