What are they? why do we have them? what can they teach us? how best can we work with them?

what are they? why do we have them? what

can they teach us? how best can we work with

them?

some sources of inspiration

Damasio A. Descartes’ error: emotion, reason and the human brain. London: Papermac, 1996

Gendlin E. Focusing-oriented psychotherapy: a manual of the experiential method. New York: Guilford, 1996

Kennedy-Moore E & Watson J. Expressing emotion: myths, realities, & therapeutic strategies. New York: Guilford, 1999

Damasio A. The feeling of what happens: body, emotion and the making of consciousness. London: Vintage, 2000

Lepore S. & Smyth J. The writing cure: how expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2002

Greenberg L. Emotion-focused therapy: coaching clients to work through their feelings. Washington: APA, 2002

definitions of emotion

oed: “disturbance of mind; mental sensation or state; instinctive feeling as opposed to reason.” [from French émouvoir=to excite & mouvoir=to move]

encyclopedia brittanica: “a distinct feeling or quality of consciousness, such as joy or sadness, that reflects the personal significance of an emotion-arousing event ...”

columbia encyclopedia: “term commonly and loosely used to denote individual, subjective feelings which dictate moods. In psychology, emotion is considered a response to stimuli that involves characteristic physiological changes—such as increase in pulse rate, rise in body temperature, greater or less activity of certain glands, change in rate of breathing … “

what are emotions & feelings?

internal feelings

physiological reactions

reflection

external observ-able responses

adapted from: Kennedy-

Moore E & Watson J. Expressing emotion: myths, realities, and

therapeutic strategies.

New York: Guilford Press, 1999.

types of emotion & feeling

six primary/universal emotions happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, disgust secondary/social emotions e.g. pride, jealousy, guilt, shame, embarrassment background emotions

e.g. excitement, energy/fatigue, wellness/sickness, harmony/discord, relaxation/tension, stability/instability, balance/imbalance

moods, drives & motivationsmoods are made up of modulated & sustained primary, secondary or background emotions; drives & motivations express themselves and are detectable through background emotions

the following classification system is from: Damasio A. The feeling of what happens. London:

Vintage, 2000

what do emotions do?

prepare the body-mind for “appropriate” action

heart rate, blood flow, hormones, & also changes in memory, thinking, etc

provide information on how situation is assessed

noting & interpreting feelings, which may be appropriate to energize current action or may be inappropriate & need updating

send out signals to others posture, voice tone, facial expression,

speed of movement send signals to others about self and assessment of environment