Debilitative Emotions
in
Interpersonal Communication
Emotions

What are emotions?

How do we “pick up on” our on
emotions and those of other
people?
4 Parts of Our Emotions




Physiological Changes
Nonverbal Reactions
Cognitive Interpretations
Verbal Expression
Physiological Changes
“Bodily changes such as:
•
•
•
•
Increased Heart Rate
Rise in Blood Pressure
Adrenaline Rush
Pupil Dilation
Nonverbal Reactions
External bodily
changes such
as:
• Blushing or
• Perspiring
Behavioral
changes such
as:
• Facial
expression
• Posture
• Gestures
• Vocal tone
• Rate of Speech
Nonverbal Reactions

Try to smile and
stay sad at the
same time for
15 mins
straight… its
difficult to do…

-Alder, Rosenfeld, & Proctor, 2007
Nonverbals Lead
to Emotions
Emotions Lead
to Nonvervals
Cognitive Interpretations

Our interpretations of our
physical state contribute to our
experience of emotion.

Nervous or Excited
Verbal Expression
Verbal expression of our
•
•
•
Physiological Changes
Nonverbal Reactions and
Cognitive Interpretations
help us to accurately check our
perceptions in interpersonal
interactions.
Example:
One evening you are walking
across campus by yourself in
the dark. As you walk into a
very dark stretch of the walk
way, you hear a low growl near
you ankles. A moving car
passes as you pick up your
pace and you see the shadow of
something with VERY large
teeth following you…
… Scary thing continued

If this were you, how might you
respond (physically, nonverbally,
verbally)?

What might you be thinking
(cognitive interpretation)?
What Influences Our
Emotions?





Personality
Culture
Biological Sex
and Gender
Social
Conventions
Social Roles

Fear of SelfDisclosure

Emotional
Contagion:
“emotions are
infectious”
POP QUIZ!!!!!
1.
What are the three types of
Interpersonal Goals?
(hint: from Cody text, chapter 1:
instrumental, relational, selfpresentation.)
POP QUIZ!!!!!
2.
3.
Will all people have the same
interpersonal goals at the
same time? Example?
What happens when people
have incompatible goals?
… Enter Conflict.


Cody et. al. define conflict as
the perception of incompatible
goals.
“Inaccurate perceptions of
ourselves and others can
generate a wide range of
emotions that interfere with
effective communication.”
- Adler, Rosenfeld, & Proctor, p220
Managing Difficult Emotions
Facilitative
Emotions:
Contribute to
effective
functioning.

Debilitative
Emotions:
Hinder or prevent
effective
interpersonal
communication.

Managing Difficult Emotions

Difference between facilitative
and debilitative emotions are the
intensity and duration of the
emotion.

Example: difference between
sadness and depression.
Managing Difficult Emotions
People’s interpretations of events
determine their feelings:
Activating Thought or Consequences
Event
Belief
Being
called
names
Being
called
names
I’ve done
Hurt, upset
something
wrong
My friend Pity, sympathy
is mentally
ill
Difficult Emotions

Stress

Anger
Stress

What are stressful situations for
you?
Stress



Stress can be defined as a
nonspecific, general response
on the body, signaling the need
to adapt or external or internal
states.
Parallel to the physiological
component of all emotions.
Can be facilitative or debilitative.
Responses to Stress
What are some ways we might
respond to facilitative stress?
(Excitement before a performance)

What are some ways we might
respond to debilitative stress?
(Anxiety about meting new people)

Harmful Responses to Stress

Loneliness, isolation, and lack of
social support during periods of
stress create physiological
damage and aggravate the
effects of stress. (Johnson,
2006)
Anger


One of the most common emotions
involved in conflict is anger
“Anger is a defensive, emotional
reaction that occurs when other
people frustrate your attempts to
accomplish something, interfere with
your plans, make you feel belittled
and rejected, or indicate that you
have no value or importance.”
(Johnson, 307)
Anger


Many people view anger as a
negative emotion.
Destructive anger is a debilitative
emotion. However, “about 33 to 67%
of the time, the [constructive]
expression of anger seems to result
in a more positive relationship and
increased understanding of the other
person, oneself, and the problem.”
(Johnson, 307)
Anger

Constructive expression of
anger:
Involves both people
 Frames the anger in terms of
solving a mutual problem rather
than as a chance to vent feelings.

Anger and Conflict

Focusing on the Task
Remember that conflict is the
perception of incompatible goals.
 Determine the interpersonal goals.
 How might these goals be
compatible?


Assert yourself
Assert Yourself


Nonassertive behavior: often
involves letting other people
violate your personal right to be
treated with respect and dignity.
Aggressive behavior: involves
expressing thoughts, feelings,
and opinions in a way that
violates other’s rights to be
treated with respect and dignity.
Assert Yourself

Assertive behavior: involves
describing your feelings,
thoughts, opinions, and
preferences directly to another
person in an honest and
appropriate way that respects
both individuals.