MODEL OF EMOTIONAL PROCESSING 04.11.02

1. MODEL OF EMOTIONAL PROCESSING 04.11.02 This describes the basic Elements Involved in processing negative emotional events INPUTEVENT Events (eg hurts, slights, embarrassments) can act like an input event and keep emotions bubbling on 4

2. MODEL OF EMOTIONAL PROCESSING 04.11.02 This describes the basic Elements Involved in processing negative emotional events appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT The appraisal of the meaning of an event is usually unconscious and rapid 4

3. Based on past memory experience and cognition developmental level. Problems may occur when the individual fails to register and respond to important events or interpersonal cues in which case there will be a block in feeling emotions. Feeling too much emotion may result from exaggerated input such as a person who sees threats in every gesture and innocent remark. Emotions start with an event consciously or unconsciously registered by the individual, often an interpersonal event. It may be small, such as a criticism from a friend, traumatic such as a car crash or ongoing such as a stressful job. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT past memoriesschemas 4

4. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved Memory of past appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT memoryof input past memoriesschemas 4

5. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT memoryof input The emotion is experienced as a gestalt or psychological whole (eg anger) not just the individual components (teeth clenching, tension, sweating) past memoriesschemas 4

6. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT memoryof input The person is aware of the emotion and the physiological components that comprise the emotion past memoriesschemas 4

7. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT memoryof input In normal adult development the person is able to label which emotion they are feeling. They may not consciously do this but could if asked or if they explored their feelings past memoriesschemas 4

8. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT memoryof input The person is able to link their emotion with the events causing it. Lack of awareness of emotions or failure to label correctly (eg anger, anxiety) will make it hard to correctly link events with feelings past memoriesschemas 4

9. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input There is a natural drive to express negative emotions. This may be behavioural (hitting someone), vocal (crying, shouting, swearing) or verbal (talking about your feelings). It may be direct (arguing with or talking to the person who hurt you, confession, disclosure) or indirect (kicking a door, denigrating the person behind their back, discussing it with friends, private verbal (talking to yourself about what has happened, praying, writing it down) or private – motor (expressing it in music, movement, aggressive sport or art). It may be constructive (discussing it calmly with the person who hurt you) or self defeating (arguing, driving too fast) past memoriesschemas 4

10. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input Although input-experience-expression is a natural reaction, we develop inhibitions or types of control, some helpful and some harmful past memoriesschemas 4

11. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved C O N T R O L O F E M O T I O N S appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input We may attempt to control emotions by ….. past memoriesschemas 4

12. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved C O N T R O L O F E M O T I O N S input appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input Limiting or trying to change the initial input. People may try to avoid dangerous or unpleasant situations, the sight of unpleasant situations (eg not watching the news), or avoid challenge, change or specific stimuli (eg dentist, public speaking). They may try to control thoughts about difficult events. past memoriesschemas 4

13. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved C O N T R O L O F E M O T I O N S input experience appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input The person may try to control the emotional experience itself. Whenever they feel anger or unhappiness starting, they may cut it off or squash it. They may get so good at this that they can stop it before it is consciously registered. past memoriesschemas 4

14. MODEL OF EMOTIONS 04.11.02Basic Elements Involved C O N T R O L O F E M O T I O N S input experience expression appraisal of meaning of event INPUTEVENT EMOTIONAL EXPRESSION memoryof input It is important to develop an appropriate control of the expression of emotions; we simply can’t go around hurting others when thwarted. This can go wrong in two ways – over control, where the person inhibits all expression, does nothing or says nothing about their difficulty ie not crying at the funeral of your spouse because it might upset the children – inability to control, where the person habitually cannot control actions, words or impulses even when it gets them into trouble past memoriesschemas 4