1. Emotions: Feeling, thinking, and communicating
Chapter topics
What are Emotions?
Influences on Emotional Expression
Guidelines for Expressing Emotions
Managing Difficult Emotions

2. What Are Emotions? Physiological Factors
Strong emotions are coupled with strong physiological factors
Physical components of fear:
Increased heart rate
Rise in blood pressure
Increase in adrenaline secretions
Elevated blood sugar
A slowing of the digestive system

3. What are Emotions? Nonverbal Reactions
Feelings are often apparent by observable reactions
Appearance Changes
Blushing, sweating, etc
Behavioral Changes
Facial expression
Posture
Gestures
Different vocal tone or rate

4. What are Emotions? Cognitive Interpretations
The mind plays an important role in determining emotional states
The symptoms of fear discussed earlier are similar to those of excitement, joy and other emotions
If you were to monitor someone having a strong emotional reaction, you would have a hard time ascertaining which emotion the person was experiencing

5. What are Emotions? Verbal Expression
Words can be required to discover the depth or intensity of the emotion
At times we can’t rely on perceptiveness to be sure a message is communicated
Is a new acquaintance mistaking your friendlessness as a come-on?
Is a lover’s unenthusiastic response a sign of boredom with you, or something less personal?

6. Influences on Emotional Expression
Personality
There is a clear relationship between personality and the way we experience and express emotions
Extroverts tend to report more positive emotions
Neurotic individuals tend to report more negative emotions
Personality doesn’t have to govern your communication satisfaction

7. Influences on Emotional Expression
Culture
A significant factor that influences emotional expression in different cultures is whether that culture is:
Individualistic (United States and Canada)
These cultures feel comfortable revealing their emotions to people with whom they are close
Collectivistic (Japan and India)
These cultures prize harmony and discourage expressions of negative emotions which may upset relationships

8. Influences on Emotional Expression
Gender
Biological sex is the best predictor of the ability to detect/interpret emotional expression
Research suggests that there is some truth to the unexpressive male
In one study, females were 10-15% more accurate in remembering emotional images
People in close relationships are likely to experience/express more emotions than those who are not

9. Influences on Emotional Expression
Social Conventions
The unwritten rules of communication discourage the direct expression of emotion
How many genuine emotional expressions do you or we see in daily life?
Social rules even discourage too much expression of positive feelings
Emotion Labor
Managing or even suppressing emotions is both appropriate and necessary

10. Influences on Emotional Expression
Fear of Self-Disclosure
In a society that discourages the expression of emotions, revealing them can seem risky
Emotional Contagion
The process by which emotions are transferred from one person to another
Is it possible to catch someone’s mood?
Emotions become more infectious with prolonged contact

11. Guidelines for Expressing Emotion
There is not a universal rule for expression of emotion
Personality, culture, gender, play a part
The key is to express emotion constructively
Think about a time when you expressed your emotion clearly, then wish you hadn’t.
Those who control their feelings and deny distress are more likely to get a host of ailments, including cancer and heart disease

12. Guidelines for Expressing Emotion
Recognize Your Feelings
Beyond being aware, also try to identify
Recognize the difference between feeling, talking and acting
Expand your emotional vocabulary
Share multiple feelings
You might often express anger but overlook confusion, disappointment or frustration

13. Guidelines for Expressing Emotion
Consider When and Where to Express Your Feelings
Give yourself time to discover the gravity of the emotion before full expression
Accept responsibility for your feelings
Instead of saying:
“You’re making me angry!” try “I’m getting angry.”
“You hurt my feelings,” say “I feel hurt when you do that.”

14. Guidelines for Expressing Emotion
Be Mindful of the Communication Channel
Mediated Channels
Instant Message
SMS Message
Is it appropriate to end a relationship via voic ?
What is the result of using CAPITAL LETTERS in an instant message or ?

15. Managing Difficult Emotions
Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions
Facilitative Emotions
Are emotions which contribute to effective functioning
Debilitative Emotions
Are emotions which detract from effective functioning
Intensity
Anger or irritation may be beneficial
Rage usually makes matters worse

16. Managing Difficult Emotions
Sources of Debilitative Emotions
Our genetic makeup
Emotional memory
Harmless events can trigger debilitative feelings
Self-talk

17. Managing Difficult Emotions
Self-Talk
Interpretations people make of an event, during the process of self-talk that determine their feelings
Event Thought Feeling
Being called names “I’ve done something wrong.” hurt, upset
Being called names “My friend must be sick.” concern, sympathy

18. Managing Difficult Emotions
Irrational Thinking
The Fallacies
The Fallacy of Perfection
The belief that a worthwhile communication should be able to handle every situation
The Fallacy of Approval
That it is vital to gain the approval of virtually every person

19. Managing Difficult Emotions
Irrational Thinking
The Fallacy of Shoulds
The inability to distinguish between what is and what should be
The Fallacy of Overgeneralization
Basing a decision on limited information
When we exaggerate shortcomings
The Fallacy of Causation
The irrational belief that emotions are caused by others rather than by one’s own self-talk

20. Managing Difficult Emotions
Irrational Thinking
The Fallacy of Helplessness
Satisfaction in life is determined by forces beyond your control
The Fallacy of Catastrophic Expectations
The assumption that if something bad can happen, then it is going to happen

21. Managing Difficult Emotions
Minimizing Debilitative Emotions
Monitor your emotional reactions
Note the activating event
Record your self-talk
Reappraise your irrational beliefs
Replace self-defeating self-talk with more constructive thinking

22. Chapter Review What are Emotions? Influences on Emotional Expression
Guidelines for Expressing Emotions
Managing Difficult Emotions