Remaining Classes 04/23Traumatic Events 04/25Emotional Broadcaster Diary Write-Up Due 04/30Emotions and Perception 05/02Final Exam Review 05/14 Final Exam, 11:45-2:45

Managing Emotions (continued) Class 24

Other Disclosure Studies Show: Disclosure  higher T-Cell count  improved antibody response to Epstein-Barr  improved antibody response to Hepatitis B Improved management of chronic illness: Diabetes Asthma Other chronic illness Effect replicated in scores of studies, by many different researchers

Benjamin Franklin's Anger Management Method

Disclosure and Closeness to Offenders (Harber & Wenberg, 2005) Subjects recall: Close friend Neutral person Person who betrayed them Write: Thoughts and feelings Facts only (person’s height, features) Outcome: Closeness toward recalled person

Results: Disclosure and Closeness

Collective Coping Class 25

Disasters What makes something a disaster?

Schemas and Emotion Mighty tree that sheds acorns? Soft drink, rival of Pepsi? Very brief story with funny ending? Gray/black fumes that arise from a fire? The white part of an egg? Oak Coke Joke Smoke Albumin

Basic Beliefs / Fundamental Assumptions The world is just The world is orderly, not chaotic or random One’s self is good and competent Traumas are events that violate fundamental assumptions (aka "basic beliefs")

The world is just [???] The world is orderly, not chaotic or random [???] One’s self is good and competent Major Events Challenge Basic Beliefs

The Loma Prieta Earthquake, CA 1989 Characteristics of Quake 7.1 on Richter scale Duration: 15 seconds Most intense seismic event since 1906 quake, which destroyed SF Effects of Quake Deaths= 60 + Injured= 3700 Displaced= 12,000 Damage= $6 billion

My Quake Survey Journey SF to Oakland Ferry Jack London Square Office Worker's Survey request Husband's survey request What was going on?

Disclosure and Coping Schacter Anxiety and Affiliation Studies a. Clarify causes of distress b. Validates own emotions Sympathetic Listening as Key to Social Support a. Making sense of trauma b. Perspective, insight Failure to Disclose is a Health Risk a. Suppression physically effortful b. Prolonged suppression  chronic stress c. Disclosure stops suppression, reduces illness

Health Benefits of Disclosure Immediate Lowered heart rate Lowered skin conductance Reduced muscle tension Long term health Fewer MD visits Fewer symptoms Stronger immune system Long term coping Reduced depression, stress higher grades, less absenteeism Quicker re-employment after loss

Listening Isn’t Easy Contagion of Distress Holocaust survivors study Vicarious traumatization among therapists Avoidance of the supporter role Pseudo-sympathetic responses Outright rejection

Social Dilemma of Collective Coping People simultaneously placed in two roles: 1. Seek out others for support 2. Sought out as a support source for others AND 1. Telling your problem advances coping 2. Hearing others disclose is a stressor

Survey of Disaster Research from 1959 to 1989: A review of 73 published studies. Gathered comparison group data:27% Gathered data two times after event30% Gathered data 3 + times after event14% Gathered data no later than weeks after event25% Meet all the above criteria0

Quake Study Survey Locations

Timeline of Quake Study Q WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK WEEK --- WEEK --- WEEK --- WEEK

Quake Study Method Sample size: 789 residents (SF, Sac, S. Cal, Dallas) Data gathering method: Phone survey Random digit dialing Calls made 6:30 – 9:30, weeknights only Survey lasts 10 minutes

Survey Content Communication: Thinking, talking, listening Emotional reactions Physical symptoms Coping tactics : praying, joking, drinking

Rates of Talking and Thinking Following the Loma Prieta Earthquake: Bay Area Only

“Thank you for not sharing your earthquake experience with me” T-shirts in Palo Alto during weeks 3-6 after the quake

Percent Reporting an Earthquake- Related Dream, SF vs. Other Locations

Percent Reporting an Argument with Family or Co-Workers During the Prior Week

Percentage Change in Aggravated Assaults From Year Before Quake to Year After Quake

Rates of Quake Related Joking

A need to be shaken and stirred? “But deep in my heart I know not that a major disaster would be deliverance from my drab, wretched life – salvation from the old week-by-week, a chance for two-bit heroics blown up on the front page …. I’ve talked to others, and I’m not alone. Maybe we crave a chance to be stouthearted for once and have a real situation to cope with.” Michael Hood, NPR Reporter Commenting on minor quake in Seattle, WA 05/09/96

The Three Stage Model of Collective Coping

Persian Gulf War I US soldiers in harms way Experts predict 1000s of US casualties Fears of nuclear weapons, poison gas Fears of terrorism at home Yellow ribbons, prayer sessions Media barrage of war-relate stories

Persian Gulf War Study Survey nearly identical to that used in Quake Study Participants contacted randomly All participants were Dallas, TX residents No “comparison sample” possible

Rates and Talking and Thinking Following the Persian Gulf War

Rates of Event-Related Dreaming, Following the Quake and Following the War

Rate of Increased Aggravated Assaults, Dallas, 1991 (War) vs (Pre-War)

Implications of Collective Coping Research 1.Coping appears to occur in a three-stage manner 1.Emergency 2.Inhibition 3.Recovery 2.Public safety should be on especial alert during inhibition stage 3.Emotions are negotiated events; we need to share the burden of disclosure and listening.