1. Debilitative Emotions in
Interpersonal Communication

2. Emotions What are emotions?
How do we “pick up on” our on emotions and those of other people?

3. 4 Parts of Our Emotions Physiological Changes Nonverbal Reactions
Cognitive Interpretations
Verbal Expression

4. Physiological Changes
“Bodily changes such as:
Increased Heart Rate
Rise in Blood Pressure
Adrenaline Rush
Pupil Dilation

5. Nonverbal Reactions External bodily changes such as: Blushing or
Perspiring
Behavioral changes such as:
Facial expression
Posture
Gestures
Vocal tone
Rate of Speech

6. Nonverbal Reactions
Try to smile and stay sad at the same time for 15 mins straight… its difficult to do…
-Alder, Rosenfeld, & Proctor, 2007

7. Cognitive Interpretations
Our interpretations of our physical state contribute to our experience of emotion.
Nervous or Excited

8. Verbal Expression Verbal expression of our Physiological Changes
Nonverbal Reactions and
Cognitive Interpretations
help us to accurately check our perceptions in interpersonal interactions.

9. Example:
One evening you are walking across campus by yourself in the dark. As you walk into a very dark stretch of the walk way, you hear a low growl near you ankles. A moving car passes as you pick up your pace and you see the shadow of something with VERY large teeth following you…

10. … Scary thing continued
If this were you, how might you respond (physically, nonverbally, verbally)?
What might you be thinking (cognitive interpretation)?

11. What Influences Our Emotions?
Personality
Culture
Biological Sex and Gender
Social Conventions
Social Roles
Fear of Self-Disclosure
Emotional Contagion:
“emotions are infectious”

12. POP QUIZ!!!!! What are the three types of Interpersonal Goals?
(hint: from Cody text, chapter 1: instrumental, relational, self-presentation.)

13. POP QUIZ!!!!!
Will all people have the same interpersonal goals at the same time? Example?
What happens when people have incompatible goals?

14. … Enter Conflict.
Cody et. al. define conflict as the perception of incompatible goals.
“Inaccurate perceptions of ourselves and others can generate a wide range of emotions that interfere with effective communication.”
- Adler, Rosenfeld, & Proctor, p220

15. Managing Difficult Emotions
Facilitative Emotions:
Contribute to effective functioning.
Debilitative Emotions:
Hinder or prevent effective interpersonal communication.

16. Managing Difficult Emotions
Difference between facilitative and debilitative emotions are the intensity and duration of the emotion.
Example: difference between sadness and depression.

17. Managing Difficult Emotions
People’s interpretations of events determine their feelings:
Activating Event
Thought or Belief
Consequences
Being called names
I’ve done something wrong
Hurt, upset
My friend is mentally ill
Pity, sympathy

18. Difficult Emotions
Stress
Anger

19. Stress
What are stressful situations for you?

20. Stress
Stress can be defined as a nonspecific, general response on the body, signaling the need to adapt or external or internal states.
Parallel to the physiological component of all emotions.
Can be facilitative or debilitative.

21. Responses to Stress
What are some ways we might respond to facilitative stress?
(Excitement before a performance)
What are some ways we might respond to debilitative stress?
(Anxiety about meting new people)

22. Harmful Responses to Stress
Loneliness, isolation, and lack of social support during periods of stress create physiological damage and aggravate the effects of stress. (Johnson, 2006)

23. Anger One of the most common emotions involved in conflict is anger
“Anger is a defensive, emotional reaction that occurs when other people frustrate your attempts to accomplish something, interfere with your plans, make you feel belittled and rejected, or indicate that you have no value or importance.” (Johnson, 307)

24. Anger Many people view anger as a negative emotion.
Destructive anger is a debilitative emotion. However, “about 33 to 67% of the time, the [constructive] expression of anger seems to result in a more positive relationship and increased understanding of the other person, oneself, and the problem.” (Johnson, 307)

25. Anger Constructive expression of anger: Involves both people
Frames the anger in terms of solving a mutual problem rather than as a chance to vent feelings.

26. Anger and Conflict Focusing on the Task Assert yourself
Remember that conflict is the perception of incompatible goals.
Determine the interpersonal goals.
How might these goals be compatible?
Assert yourself

27. Assert Yourself
Nonassertive behavior: often involves letting other people violate your personal right to be treated with respect and dignity.
Aggressive behavior: involves expressing thoughts, feelings, and opinions in a way that violates other’s rights to be treated with respect and dignity.

28. Assert Yourself
Assertive behavior: involves describing your feelings, thoughts, opinions, and preferences directly to another person in an honest and appropriate way that respects both individuals.