1. What Are Emotions? Made up of four components: Physiological Feelings
Nonverbal Reactions
Cognitive Interpretations
Verbal Expressions

2. Physiological Feelings
Strong Emotions trigger bodily changes
Increased heart rate
Rise in BP
Slowing of digestion
Physiological messages can offer clues to your emotions once you become aware of them

3. Nonverbal Reactions Not all physical changes accompany emotions
Easy to tell when one experiences a strong emotion, but hard to determine the exact emotion being conveyed
Facial expressions mimic feelings

4. Cognitive Interpretations
Our minds play an important role in determining how we feel
What we think determines our particular feeling.

5. Verbal Expressions
We cannot always rely on perceptiveness to make sure the message is conveyed appropriately
Emotional intelligence

6. Types of Emotions

7. Emotional Intelligence
The ability to recognize which feelings are appropriate in which situations and the skill to communicate those feelings effectively.

8. Typical Emotions
Anger
Anxiety
Content
Disgust
Fear
Gratitude
Guilt

9. Typical Emotions Happiness Jealousy Joy Pleasure Relief Sadness
Surprise

11. Influences on Emotion

12. Major Influences Personality Culture Biological Sex and Gender Power
Social Conventions
Social Roles
Fear of Disclosure
Emotional Contagion

13. Personality
Extroverted vs. Introverted
Neurotic vs. Non-neurotic

14. Culture Universal expression of emotions Situational Differences
happiness
sadness
surprise
anger
disgust
fear
Situational Differences
Degree of Expression Differences

15. Culture Continued... Ethnicity Individualism vs. Collectivism Blacks
Asians
Whites
Individualism vs. Collectivism
external display
internal experience
Data from study

16. Biological Sex and Gender
Women
more attuned
better memories of emotional images
more intense reactions
larger range of emotions
Men
Reveal positive emotions (NOT negative ones)
More likely to disclose to women

17. Power
The less powerful individual is more aware of emotions of the more powerful person
Intimidation factor

18. Social Conventions direct expression of emotions
ex. United States
indirect expression of emotions
ex. Japan
Individualism-Collectivism impacts??

19. Social Roles
Emotional usage is decreased due to acceptable social roles.
One loses the ability to show certain emotions when they are continually repressed.

20. Fear of Self-Disclosure
Example: It’s hard for a boss to admit when he/she is wrong
Those that disclose can be misunderstood
Affection = romantic invitation
Uncertainty = weakness
Honesty can cause discomfort
Honesty can be used against you

21. Emotional Contagion
Definition: When one becomes influenced by the emotions of others around them.
Varying degrees
Fast process with no verbal communication needed.

22. Others… EVERYTHING influences emotion!!
Religion, individual personal experiences etc.

23. Regardless of influences on emotions, there are healthy and unhealthy ways to express them.
The next section looks into the guidelines of healthy emotional expressions.

24. Guidelines for Expressing Emotions
Advice and Techniques for Effective Emotional Expression

25. Effects of Emotional Expression
Emotional expression has a tremendous effect on health and well-being.
Physiological effects
Relational effects

26. Physiological Effects
Emotional suppression increases risk of physical problems such as, cancer, asthma, heart disease (DeAngelis, 1992).
Emotional inhibition also causes a increased risk for psychological problems, such as, anxiety or depression (Krause et al., 2003).
Overly aggressive expression can lead to high blood pressure and increased stress (Mayne, 1993).
A healthy balance is key.

27. Relational Effects
Pent-up emotions are harder to control and more likely to be expressed violently.
Lack of expression leads to relationship stagnation.
Healthy emotional expression increases intimacy, promotes relationship growth, and allows problems to be fixed before they escalate.

28. Steps to Healthy Emotional Expression
Recognize Your Feelings.
Choose the Best Language.
Share Multiple Feelings.
Recognize the Difference Between Feeling and Acting.
Accept Responsibility for Your Feelings.
Choose the Best Time and Place.

29. Recognize Your Feelings
Pay attention to your body.
Know your “emotional triggers”.
Don’t underestimate the importance of feelings.
Watch your gestures.

30. Choose the Best Language
“Wanting” isn’t the same thing as “feeling”.
Don’t rely on common adjectives.
Be specific.
Use metaphors or examples.
State the cause of the emotion when possible.

31. Share Multiple Feelings
Feelings are all related.
Same event can cause many different emotions.
Express as many emotions as possible.
Don’t be afraid to elaborate.

32. Recognize the Difference Between Feeling and Acting
Don’t try to be a hero.
Don’t pretend to feel something you don’t.
Simply acting on feelings does not always alleviate them.
Feelings do not always have to lead to action.

33. Accept Responsibility for Your Feelings
Don’t blame others for your feelings in your expression, even if they are the cause.
Don’t try to hide or cover up your feelings to please someone else.

34. Choose the Best Time and Place
Give yourself some time to prepare.
Plan out what you are going to say; write it down if you like.
Don’t have an emotional discussion when you are tired, sick, or under severe stress.
Devote the necessary time.
Make sure the other person is prepared to listen.

35. When Not to Express Emotions
If you are sure you will have difficulty controlling your emotions.
If the other person is unable to listen at that moment.
If the consequences might be worse than dealing with the emotions (authority figure).
Look for an indirect route.
Enlist a third party or mediator.

36. Expressing Positive Emotions
Most people associate emotional expression with problems or difficulties.
Happiness is also an emotion.
Feel free to express happiness, confidence, success and contentment.
Praise and complement your significant other when you are proud of them.
Surround yourself with people who will be happy for you.
Must be aware of the time and place!

37. Summary
Emotional expression is healthy and necessary for good relationships.
Know how you feel and why you feel it.
Express your emotions calmly and specifically.
“Acting out” isn’t necessary.
Choose your time and place carefully.
Don’t be afraid to express positive emotions!

38. It is true that healthy emotional expression can be more difficult for certain emotions
The next section involves a wide range of feelings that affect our communication skills.

39. Managing Difficult Emotions

40. Facilitative and Debilitative Emotions
Facilitative Emotions- emotions that contribute to effective functioning
Debilitative Emotions- emotions that hinder or prevent effective performance

41. Characteristics of Debilitative Emotions
Intensity
Duration

42. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Perfection- A communicator should handle all situations well
Very inspiring, but unrealistic

43. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Approval- A communicator has to constantly obtain everyone’s approval
Communicator sacrifices their own principles and/or happiness

44. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Should- A communicator doesn’t distinguish between what is and what should be
Communicator often wants others to behave differently

45. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Overgeneralization- A communicator doesn’t distinguish between what is and what should be
Communicator often wants others to behave differently

46. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Causation- A communicator feels they shouldn’t do anything to hurt or inconvenience others
Often communicator’s needs are overlooked

47. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Helplessness- Forces beyond a communicators control determine their satisfaction
Causes the communicator to feel like a victim

48. Irrational Thoughts That Can Lead to Debilitative Emotions
Fallacy of Catastrophic Expectations- A communicator believes if something bad can happen, it will
Causes ruminations of thoughts and feelings

49. How to Minimize Debilitative Emotions
Monitor your emotional reactions
Note activating/triggering events
Specific people
Specific events
Dispute irrational events
Why they are irrational events
Why your have them

50. References Adler, R.B., Rosenfeld, L.B., & Proctor, R.F. (2004).
Interplay: The Process of Interpersonal
Communication (9th ed.). New York: Oxford University
Press.
DeAngelis, T. (1992). Illness linked with repressive style
of coping. APA Monitor, pp
Krause, E.D., Mendelson, T. & Lynch, T.R. (2003).
Childhood emotional invalidation and adult
psychological distress: The mediating role of emotional
inhibition. Child Abuse and Neglect, 27(2), p
Mayne, T.J. (1999). Negative affect and health: The importance of being earnest. Cognition and Emotion, 13(5), pp