Managing Emotions (continued) Class 16

Disclosure and Immunocompetence (continued) Results: Which group produced more antibodies to mitogen? Thoughts and Feelings Control group X Role of Insight: 80% of T&F writers report insight-related benefits (perspective shift, new ideas about self, etc.) Quality of Writing : Writing that improved health was: 1. More emotional 2. Images and analogies 3. Clear organization: Beginning, middle, end.

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

Why Does Writing Promote Coping? Harber & Pennebaker, 1991 Thought Intrusions classic symptom of trauma Ironic effect of suppression Emotions and recurring thoughts

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

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")

Discrepancy Theories of Emotion and Trauma Emotions arise from schema violations Emotions alert us when schemas (beliefs) and experience (facts) conflict Emotions stay active until schemas and experience difference is resolved Traumas arise when fundamental beliefs are violated by experience Changing fundamental beliefs very hard, people resist doing so Victim blaming, traumatic amnesia, emotional dissociation Listeners don't want to hear stories that offend their own basic beliefs. Trauma victims in compound double bind: internal and external resistance to revealing trauma. World is well-ordered World is just Self is good, competent, worthy

Writing and Traumatic Recovery Writing about negative events may boost morale. How so? Active coping Purposeful activity Improved self-image Psychologically and socially safe

Bonanza Model of Writing and Traumatic Recovery

Tulving, Paivio dual code systems of memory a. Episodic – imagistic, holistic, emotional, self-relevant, chronologically organized—"analog" b. Semantic – fact-based, non-emotional, category based, elemental rather than holistic – "digital" Work of emotional assimilation is converting episodic into semantic. Writing (and verbal disclosure) promote this psychological digestion. a. Dissolves phenomenal whole into semantic bits. b. Associates traumatic experience with existing memory and beliefs. c. Consider the "unpacking" of semantic network Intra-Psychic Benefits of Writing

Does Writing Actually Heal Traumatic Memory? Bernard Rimé : No, it doesn't. Ss write/don't write about trauma. X days later return, Ss asked to think about trauma Ss rate how upsetting to recall trauma. No differences between expt. groups. This being so, what good is writing? Bernard Rimé

Hey Bernie, Not So Quick! Harber & Pennebaker: No claims about the potency of intentionally-recovered memories. Instead, focus on their ability to spontaneously intrude. Real question: Does writing reduce thought intrusions? Yes -- Klein & Boals, Expressive writing reduces intrusions.

Class 17: Collective Coping

Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989

The Loma Prieta Earthquake 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

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.

MIDTERM GRADES Grading Formula A B B B C C C D 0-58 F