Robert E. Kleinpeter January 21, 2015 Baton Rouge Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Health & Wellness Fair

 Neuroscience – new technology and the study of brain chemistry  Evolutionary Psychology – studies how the reproductive advantages and disadvantages of different emotional reactions to events shaped our development  Positive Psychology – cognitive and social psychology which explores how geography, relationships, and careers affect us

 Designed to supplement, not replace, traditional psychological research  Focus is on health, not disease  Researches positive emotions and character traits

 Pessimism  Low decision latitude  “Zero-sum game” nature of the job  Internal values are not aligned with work

 The difference is “explanatory style”  A pessimist views bad events as pervasive, permanent, and uncontrollable  An optimist views bad events as local, temporary, and changeable  In all endeavors pessimism is a bad trait, except for law

 Major risk factor for depression  Lawyers cannot easily turn off their pessimism (prudence) at home  Thinking like a lawyer is fundamentally negative – it’s critical, pessimistic, and depersonalized

 Decision latitude refers to the number of choices one has  Occupations that involve little or no control are at risk for depression and poor physical health  High job demand with low decision latitude means more coronary disease and depression

 The adversary system is a classic zero sum game  Lawyers are trained to be aggressive and compete in order to win at trial  Generating negative emotions in an adversary setting can create lawyer demoralization

 Learned optimism – you can employ a “disputing technique”  Identify catastrophic thoughts  Treat thoughts as if said by a third person whose mission is to make your life miserable  Marshal evidence against catastrophic thoughts

 Combination of high pressure and low decision latitude causes negative health effects  Try to increase personal control over work  More substantive training, mentoring, team involvement, client contact  Using signature strength of attorneys

 Reflects values of individual rights and natural justice  Promotes control by the parties  Lawyers preserve and enforce these rights and serve the public by doing so  Can lawyers participate in the adversary system without generating conflict on a personal level?

Moral Foundations - Positive 1.Care 2.Fairness 3.Authority 4.Sanctity 5.Loyalty MoralFoundations.org

Moral Foundations - Negative 1.Harm 2.Cheating 3.Subversion 4.Degradation 5.Betrayal MoralFoundations.org

 Find work that interests you  Align your work with your values  Balance your work and the rest of your life  Deepen workplace relationships  Savor the small pleasures