Week 5 - Psychotherapeutic Interventions & Evidence Based Practice (Part 2)
What are emotions?
Emotions are instinctive and intuitive, psychological and physiological reactions
Emotions are experienced subjectively in response to stimuli
Only the person experiencing the emotion has access to their motion
Emotional responses often result in behavioural, experiential, autonomic, and neuroendocrine changes that prepare us for challenges or opportunities
Purpose of Emotions
Survival
Emotions are rapid signals that provide critical information about our environment
Emotions are communicated through facial expressions, body posture, tone of voice gestures
Emotions motivate us to take action that fulfils our desires or avoids harm.
Social Cohesion
Emotions, foster empathy, compassion, and understanding between individuals
Emotions facilitate social connections through shared experiences and bonding with others, building supportive relationships
Integration of Thinking and Feeling
To function effectively in the world, we need to integrate both cognitive processes and emotional experiences.
Emotions provide valuable insights and guide decision-making, complementing rational thought processes.
Basic Emotions (Ekman, 1999)
There are seven basic emotions that are universally recognised across cultures:
Happiness
Sadness
Anger
Fear
Surprise
Disgust
Contempt
Problematic Emotions
Not all emotions are adaptive or helpful. Emotions can be problematic when:
They interfere with normal functioning
The person lacks the skills to manage them
There is maladaptive avoidance, perhaps due to fear
They are associated with undesirable behaviours
They are no longer adaptive to the current context
They hinder personal growth
