UNIT 4 UG 3RD NOTES PDF

BUILDING EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE - Emotional Intelligence - Meaning, components, Importance and Relevance - Positive and Negative Emotions - Healthy and unhealthy expression of emotions. WHAT IS AN EMOTION? An emotion is a conscious mental reaction to a situation or event, comprising both physi...

BUILDING EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE - Emotional Intelligence - Meaning, components, Importance and Relevance - Positive and Negative Emotions - Healthy and unhealthy expression of emotions. WHAT IS AN EMOTION? An emotion is a conscious mental reaction to a situation or event, comprising both physiological and behavioral response and are subjective to each and every human. THREE KEY ELEMENTS OF EMOTION 1. Subjective Experience: All emotions begin with a subjective experience, also referred to as a stimulus. While basic emotions are expressed by all individuals regardless of culture or upbringing, the experience that produces them can be highly subjective. Subjective experiences can range from something as simple as seeing a color to something as major as losing a loved one or getting married. No matter how intense the experience is, it can provoke many emotions in a single individual and the emotions each individual feels may be different. For example, one person may feel anger and regret at the loss of a loved one while another may experience intense sadness. 2. Physiological Response: We all know how it feels to have our heart beat fast with fear. This physiological response is the result of the autonomic nervous system’s reaction to the emotion we’re experiencing. The autonomic nervous system controls our involuntary bodily responses and regulates our fight-or-flight response. According to many psychologists, our physiological responses are likely how emotion helped us evolve and survive as humans throughout history. Interestingly, studies have shown autonomic physiological responses are strongest when a person’s facial expressions most closely resemble the expression of the emotion they’re experiencing. In other words, facial expressions play an important role in responding accordingly to an emotion in a physical sense. 3. Behavioral Response: The behavioral response aspect of the emotional response is the actual expression of the emotion. Behavioral responses can include a smile, a grimace, a laugh or a sigh, along with many other reactions depending on societal norms and personality. While plentiful research suggests that many facial expressions are universal, such as a frown to indicate sadness, sociocultural norms and individual upbringings play a role in our behavioral responses. For example, how love is expressed is different both from person to person and across cultures. Behavioral responses are important to signal to others how we’re feeling, but research shows that they’re also vital to individuals’ well-being. A study in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology found that while watching Prarthana Devi (9954801499)  negative and positive emotional films, suppression of behavioral responses to emotion had physical effects on the participants. The effects included elevated heart rates. This suggests that expressing behavioral responses to stimuli, both positive and negative, is better for your overall health than holding those responses inside. Thus, there are benefits of smiling, laughing and expressing negative emotions in a healthy way. The physiological and behavioral responses associated with emotions illustrate that emotion is much more than a mental state. Emotion affects our whole demeanor and our health. Furthermore, our ability to understand others’ behavioral responses plays a huge role in our emotional intelligence, which will be discussed in more detail later. EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE AND EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE Emotional competence describes the ability a person has to express his or her own emotions with complete freedom, and it is derived from emotional intelligence, which is the ability to identify emotions. - Emotional intelligence (EI): Ability to perceive, understand, and regulate emotions. - Emotional competence (EC): Ability to express emotions appropriately EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE - Emotional Intelligence (EI) is the ability to manage both your own emotions and understand the emotions of people around you. - People with high EI can identify how they are feeling, what those feelings mean, and how those emotions impact their behavior and in turn, other people. COMPONENTS OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 1. Self Awareness: Emotional self-awareness refers to the ability to recognize and comprehend one’s own emotions, including their triggers and impact. It involves being in tune with one’s thoughts and feelings, and being able to identify them as they arise. People with high emotional self-awareness are more likely to have a realistic view of themselves and their abilities, and are better equipped to manage stress, conflict, and other emotional challenges. They are also more likely to be aware of their own biases and prejudices, which can help them avoid making hasty or unfair judgments. Developing emotional self-awareness involves taking the time to reflect on one’s own emotional experiences, and being open to feedback from others. This can include: Practicing Mindfulness, Journaling, Seeking the Advice of a Trusted Friend or Mentor 2. Self Regulation: Self-regulation involves managing one’s own emotions and behavior, even in challenging or stressful situations. It involves being able to control impulses and resist temptation, and to stay focused on long-term goals by delaying gratification. People with high self-regulation are less likely to engage in impulsive vandalistic or Prarthana Devi (9954801499)  self-destructive behaviors. Developing self-regulation involves:Self-reflection, deep Breathing, meditation. 3. Empathy: “Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches” Empathy involves being able to put oneself in someone else’s shoes, and to respond to their needs and feelings with sensitivity and compassion. People with high empathy are better equipped to build strong relationships, resolve conflicts, and work effectively in teams. Developing empathy involves: actively listening to others, paying attention to nonverbal cues, seeking to understand different perspectives and experiences, practicing acts of kindness or volunteering, which can help build compassion and understanding. 4. Social Skills: Social skills refer to the ability to communicate effectively with others, build and maintain strong relationships, and work collaboratively towards shared goals. It involves being able to express oneself clearly and assertively, as well as being able to listen actively and respond with empathy and understanding. People with strong social skills are more likely to be successful in their personal and professional lives, as they are able to build strong networks and work effectively in teams. Developing social skills involves: practicing effective communication (verbally and nonverbally), seeking out opportunities to collaborate and build relationships, seeking feedback, being open to constructive criticism 5. Decision Making: Most of us don’t think of decision making as an emotional intelligence skill, but often, it’s emotions that get in the way of good decisions. Using emotional intelligence to inform your decisions can help you get better outcomes. Using emotional intelligence means being aware of what you are feeling when weighing your choices. It also means being aware of how others will feel based on the decisions you make. Being emotionally intelligent means asking yourself: are my emotions helping or hindering me here? Will other people feel like helping me or hindering me? BENEFITS, IMPORTANCE AND RELEVANCE OF EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE 1. Have more close, meaningful relationships: It involves expressing oneself clearly and listening attentively to others. By being aware of our own emotions and needs, we can effectively communicate our thoughts and feelings, while also being open to understanding the perspectives of our partners or loved ones. 2. Are better able to handle everyday stress: EI begins with self-awareness, which involves recognizing your emotions, triggers, and stress responses. By understanding how stress manifests in your body and mind, you can proactively address it before it escalates, regulate your emotions instead of reacting impulsively to stressors, and maintain a positive outlook. 3. Are more socially competent: True emotional understanding involves more than just understanding your own emotions and those of others. You must also be able to put this information to work in your daily interactions and communications. Thus, being able to Prarthana Devi (9954801499)  interact well with others is an important emotional intelligence skill. 4. Report greater wellbeing: Research has consistently shown that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence tend to experience better mental well-being. A study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology found that individuals with higher levels of emotional intelligence reported lower levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. This suggests that being able to understand one’s own emotions and effectively regulate them can contribute significantly to overall mental health. 5. Show optimal psychological functioning: Optimal psychological functioning is a concept that refers to the idea of a person reaching their full potential and maximizing their internal functioning. A person with higher EI will definitely be more focused on reaching their optimal psychological functioning. POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS Positive Emotions signal that 1. Our needs are being met 2. Our actions are aligned with our values Negative Emotions signal that 1. Our needs are not being met 2. Our actions are not aligned with our values HEALTHY EXPRESSION OF EMOTION 1. Feel the emotions: Identify your feelings, accept them and talk about your feelings. 2. Learn to recognize your feelings: Pause and name your feelings and slowly get comfortable with your emotions. 3. Narrate your emotions: Journaling or describing your feelings with the help of art and music is a great way to narrate your emotions. 4. Prepare to listen: Sometimes all that we feel must not be correct, the best way to understand that is by taking constructive feedback from others and be more aware about different perspectives. 5. Talk to yourself about it: Takeout sometime solely devoted to spending time alone just how you would do for a friend. UNHEALTHY EXPRESSION OF EMOTION Cycle of uncontrolled emotions results in a person feeling bad or even worse. Unhealthy anger expression can be suppressive, passive-aggressive, or aggressive. This expression leads to a loss of control, raising a voice, slamming things purposelessly, or making snide remarks. Prarthana Devi (9954801499) CONCLUSION Emotional expression is simply the acknowledgement of these emotions we are built to feel. Healthy expression allows us to understand the emotions, truly feel them and move on. Emotional regulation refers to the unique process of initiating, inhibiting and modulating our behavior. Prarthana Devi (9954801499)