Chapter One

RATIONALE

The term personality is a complicated one. A useful working definition of personality is

“the organized, developing, psychological systems within an individual”. Personality is what
makes a person a unique person, and it is recognizable soon after birth.

Certain component of personality is character. These are sets of emotional, cognitive, and
behavioural patterns learned from experience that determines how a person thinks, feels, and
behaves.

A person's character continues to evolve throughout life, although much depends on

inborn traits and early experiences. Character is also dependent on a person's moral development.
Individuals are much more affected by emotions rooted from experience, either bad or good.
When you have depression or anxiety, it is often pretty clear. You feel nervous or down and that
misery is very much on your mind. This is a dysfunctional personality.

So what makes a dysfunctional personality?

First, let’s consider what we mean by the word “functional”. An individual is functional
when they are able to effectively work toward realizing valued goal states, given the stressors
and affordances they face. Now, when clinicians are considering the functioning of one’s
personality, they are especially looking at two broad domains, that of identity and interpersonal
relations.

The term dysfunctional is defined as "abnormal or impaired functioning" on the part of an

individual person, between people in any sort of relationship, or amongst members of a family.
Poor functioning refers to both behaviour and relationships that aren't working and have one or
more negative, unhealthy aspects to them, such as poor communication or frequent conflict
(Rudlin, 2018).

At some point, specific behaviours and emotions can be conveyed through songs. One of
which is the song by Aegis, “Halik”. In this song, several individuals sympathized to the one
singing. The reason might be because; they have same experience and grief as with the story of
the song.

The song “Halik” is released by Aegis in the year 2000. It is composed by Celso Abenoja
characterized by passionate and heart breaking lines.

The song itself connotes pain and longing that may affect the person’s personality. The
story twirls in the dysfunctional emotion brought about by the person’s past experience with her
romantic partner.

Due to this ground, the researcher established an analysis on this song to be able to
provide more information of the relationship between dysfunctional behaviours or emotions with
personality.

Consequently, this research stresses the meaning of the song and how does it relate in the
perspective of personality.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The primary purpose of this research is to evaluate person with dysfunctional negative
emotion and how does it affect personality.
 Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1. What are the possible signs of dysfunctional negative emotion?

2. How to combat this state of emotion among individuals?
3. What are the possible programs to be designed in order to support
individual with dysfunctional negative emotion?
4. Is there a significant relationship between the song lyrics and the
personality of the songwriter?

Chapter Two
ANALYSIS AND PRESENTATION OF THE SONG

This chapter presents the original lyrics of the song together with the brief
arrangement of the composer/songwriter and interpreter background.

Song Lyrics
Ayoko sana na ikaw ay mawawala
Mawawasak lamang ang aking mundo
Ngunit ano'ng magagawa,
Kung talagang ayaw mo na
Sino ba naman ako para pigilin ka?

Lumayo ka man ay maiiwan

Ang bakas ng ating pagmamahalan
Ang awiting ito ay alaala
Na hindi kita malilimutan

[Refrain]
Pagka't ikaw
Ang tanging laman
Ng aking mundo,
Ng aking puso,
Ng aking buhay...

[Chorus:]
Ang halik mo,
Na-mi-miss ko
Ang halik mo,
Na-mi-miss ko
Bakit iniwan mo ako?

Nasasaktan ako oh, baby

Sa tuwing nakikita ka
Naninibugho ako oh, baby
Pag may kasama kang iba
(Repeat refrain & chorus)

Song Interpreter
Aegis
Aegis is a Filipino pop rock band formed in 1993 (known before as AG's Soundtrippers
in clubs and lounges all over Japan in 1995). The band is composed of sisters: Juliet, Mercy and
Kris Sunot on lead vocals, Rey Abenoja (the only male member) on vocals and guitars, Stella
Pabico on keyboards, Rowena Adriano on bass guitar and Vilma Goloviogo on drums. The
group changed the name to Aegis in 1998 as agreed upon with Alpha Records.  The meaning of
their band's name is "shield" or "protection". Their songs have been featured in the award-
winning musical Rak of Aegis (Wikipedia.com).

Composer/Songwriter

Celso Abenoja
 All of the songs Aegis recorded in their first album were written by Celso
Abenoja, brother of Rey and manager Josie A. Galindo. They were songs written 20 years ago,
and were given new life by the group. Rey says his brother is a prolific songwriter and a former
band player himself but was sidetracked by some sad personal circumstances. His songs never
got to be played in that long span of time until his band of music-makers from Japan came along.

The success of Aegis and Celso's songs of sad, personal circumstances have revived the
once dormant Celso, who's now more inspired than ever to write again. After two hit albums of
pop-rock and county rock music (debut album "Halik" and sophomore album "Mahal na Mahal
Kita"), Celso wants to go disco in Aegis' next album. Late last year, Alpha records issued an all-
Christmas album for them, "Paskung-Pasko which features hit songs "Christmas Bonus" and
"Sana'y Kapiling Ka Ngayong Pasko". Currently, the group is busy promoting their fourth album
"Awit at Pag-ibig" whose songs revolve around love and the pain that comes with it. One can
easily relate to their songs because the songs are taken from real life experiences.
Celso's deeply touched by the success of his songs and how Aegis has helped turn around
those songs from oblivion. The band members are just as grateful to their composer, Celso
Abenoja, and their managers, Mr. Solito and Mrs. Josie Galindo. The couple runs the AGs Talent
Development and Management, a management company that specializes in training, and
managing local rock bands in the Philippines.

Song Analysis

In 2000, Philippine female-dominated band Aegis released, Halik (Kiss). The band

comprises six members, including two female vocalists, a male guitarist/vocalist, a female
drummer, a female keyboardist, and a female bassist. The music is an amalgamation of rock,
pop, balladry, and folk and features much originality.

Ayoko sana na ikaw ay mawawala Ang awiting ito ay alaala

Mawawasak lamang ang aking mundo Na hindi kita malilimutan
Ngunit ano'ng magagawa,
Kung talagang ayaw mo na [Refrain]
Sino ba naman ako para pigilin ka? Pagka't ikaw
Ang tanging laman
Lumayo ka man ay maiiwan Ng aking mundo,
Ang bakas ng ating pagmamahalan Ng aking puso,
Ng aking buhay... Na-mi-miss ko
Ang halik mo,
[Chorus:] Na-mi-miss ko
Ang halik mo, Bakit iniwan mo ako?

Nasasaktan ako oh, baby

Sa tuwing nakikita ka
Naninibugho ako oh, baby
Pag may kasama kang iba

The entire lyrics of the song indicate the need of affection. According to Karen Horney’s
theory of neurosis, there are ten neuroses, including the need for power, the need for affection,
the need for social prestige, and the need for independence. She believed that neurosis resulted
from basic anxiety caused by interpersonal relationships. Her theory proposes that strategies used
to cope with anxiety can be overused, causing them to take on the appearance of needs.

According to Horney, basic anxiety (and therefore neurosis) could result from a variety of
things including, " . . . direct or indirect domination, indifference, erratic behavior, lack of
respect for the child's individual needs, lack of real guidance, disparaging attitudes, too much
admiration or the absence of it, lack of reliable warmth, having to take sides in parental
disagreements, too much or too little responsibility, over-protection, isolation from other
children, injustice, discrimination, unkept promises, hostile atmosphere, and so on and so on"
(Horney, 1945).

“Ang halik mo, namimiss ko, Bakit iniwan mo ako?”

This particular line of the song practically asks why. Why did it happen to them? It
somehow bears the emotion of sadness plus madness and confusions. Upon hearing it,
listeners are conveyed by the feeling of self-downing. Apparently, this case shows
dysfunctional negative emotion arising when preferences or demands are not met.

Ellis’ cognitive theory of emotions argues that, as a function of meeting demands

or preferences, we have two types of positive emotions: dysfunctional and functional
positive emotions (Ellis & Dryden, 1997). Negative emotions arise when preferences or
demands are not met. This theory is very important because it points out to cognitive
factors that should be modified in order to change a dysfunctional emotion into a
functional emotion, and stresses the adaptive function of emotions.

A detailed analysis reveals that Ellis’ hypothesis of emotion formation emphasizes two
major components (apud. David et al., 2002):

The first component addresses the difference between functional emotions, and

dysfunctional emotions, and states that the difference consists in their quality rather than in their
intensity. While both functional and dysfunctional emotions range in intensity from mild to
severe, they differ in their quality.

The second component states that IBs and RBs are involved in emotion formation,
and that RBs are associated with functional emotions, while IBs are associated with
dysfunctional emotions.

The central tenet of the Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is that
rational beliefs trigger functional emotions, while irrational beliefs trigger dysfunctional
emotions. The central idea of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT, Ellis, 1962,
1994) is that rational beliefs trigger functional emotions, while irrational beliefs trigger
dysfunctional emotions. Rational and irrational beliefs may be distinguished in terms of
their logical, empirical, and pragmatic support. As defined by Albert Ellis (Ellis, 1962,
1994), rational beliefs are evaluative beliefs with logical, empirical, and/or pragmatic
support, while irrational beliefs are illogical, not supported by evidence, and/or do not
serve the purposes of the individual. Rational beliefs are considered to be associated with
functional emotions, while irrational beliefs are thought to lead to dysfunctional emotions
(functional and dysfunctional). Negative functional and dysfunctional emotions have been
conceptualized using both a unitary and a binary model of distress (D. David & Cramer,
2010). According to the unitary model of distress (Russell & Carroll, 1999), dysfunctional
(or pathological) emotions like anxiety and depression are different from their functional
counterparts (i.e., concern and sadness) only in terms of intensity: they are more intense
and disturbing and thus they interfere with the individual adaptation to the environment.
 Unpleasant, negative emotions can be highly functional. For example, anxious
hypervigilance in a dangerous situation can keep me on my toes, very aware of potential threats
and more able to react rapidly and appropriately. Depression" the psychotherapist Emmy Gut
suggested that even depression can at times be functional. She wrote " ... in the wilderness in
which the human race developed its current genetic characteristics, individuals who had the
capacity to respond to dangerous or otherwise significant circumstances with an adequate set of
emotions, and acted accordingly, had a better chance to survive, to have children, and to raise
them than individuals who were deficient in that respect." If my life is ruined by panic attacks or
uncontrollable worry or damaging anger outbursts or deep depression, this is not functional.
There are useful parallels between unpleasant/negative emotions and physical pain. 
Clearly negative emotions can also be highly dysfunctional (Hawkins, 2008).

Around this same (1950's), Aaron Beck was practicing as a psychoanalyst. He realized
that people's internal thoughts and perceptions had a large influence on their emotions. He also
believed that a more active and directive approach to modify thoughts would positively influence
behavioral change. His theory takes a slightly different approach than REBT, and the
terminology is somewhat different. Nonetheless, both Beck and Ellis sought to modify an
individual's dysfunctional thoughts, in order to produce a change in emotions and behavior.

According to Beck, problems occur when distorted thinking patterns influence our
interpretation of environmental events. In other words, our behavior is not really determined by
what is actually happening in the environment. Instead, our behavior is determined by
our thoughts about what is happening. Therefore, behavior is significantly influenced by our
perceptions and interpretations of the environment. Let's illustrate this important distinction.
Suppose someone walks past me and steps on my foot. I could interpret this as an accidental,
clumsy act. Alternatively, I could interpret it as an intentional, hostile act. Each interpretation
would likely elicit a very different emotional and behavioral response (Mongoase, 2013).
 Chapter Three
PRESENTATION OF OUTPUT AND POSSIBLE PROGRAM

This chapter introduces the output of research and the possible program addressing the
problem in the research.

Output/Data Gathered

Dysfunctional negative emotions have one or more of the following characteristics: a)

lead to experiencing of pain and mental unease; b) motivate the person to execute behaviors
opposed to his/her goals; c) prevent the person from engaging in behaviors necessary to reach
his/her goals.
 The song “Halik” literarily indicates dysfunctional negative emotions out of IB’s or
irrational beliefs which is characterized by negative emotions such as sadness, depression,
frustration, awfulness, self-downing and catastrophic feeling.

Aside from this, there is also an obvious need of affection inculcated in the song which is
best explained by the theory of neurosis authored by Karen Horney.

Possible Program

For many years, mental health professionals would focus their attention on emotions and
behaviors, giving less thought to how their clients actually think. Psychoanalysis didn’t consider
the client’s way of thinking to be especially problematic; instead, it aimed to penetrate the
unconscious mind.

“People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of things.” – Albert Ellis

As this quote from Ellis shows, Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy assumes that many
people with emotional or behavioral problems struggle due to the way they perceive their
experiences rather than simply the experiences themselves. REBT aims to facilitate change in
core beliefs and thought patterns that will clients more effectively deal with their problems and
improve their ability to function and feel in a healthy way (Good Therapy, 2015).

The goal of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy is best summarized as “disputing” –

challenging and questioning our irrational and dysfunctional beliefs and replacing them with
more sensible and functional beliefs. The result is not just changes in a few thought patterns or
reducing some problematic symptoms, but a new perspective on life (Albert Ellis Institute,
2014).

Dysfunctional negative emotion is inevitable for it is in the inner personality of a person.

Yet, as Ellis emphasized, we need not to be disturbed by our views in every situations, instead,
we must divert ourselves into some beautiful things in life. Family, friends, and the faith are the
best things that must be included in the development of a possible program to cure negative
emotion.
 Chapter Four
FINDINGS, SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION

This chapter discusses the findings sought by the researcher, as well as the conclusions
and recommendations derived by her.

Findings

Based on the data gathered out from the research, the following findings are presented:

1. Dysfunctional negative emotions signs are being depressed, self- downed, sad, alone,
catastrophic and negative.
2. In order to combat this kind of emotion, there should be a large engagement of
community. Things such sports, recreational activities wherein one victim of this
emotion might join should be established. Family, friends, and God are the best
persons to be encountered.
3. According to Ellis, “People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of
things.” Hence, he introduced certain therapy called Rational Emotive Behavior
Therapy that would establish sound beliefs in each situation. Community should be
active on open programs such sports and other recreational activities that are useful in
the diversion of negative emotion.
 4. Every emotion needs a channel to be used in releasing it. Thus, the lyric of the song is
significantly related to the personality of the songwriter.

Conclusion

Based on the findings, the researcher concluded that dysfunctional is an "abnormal or

impaired functioning" on the part of an individual person, between people in any sort of
relationship, or amongst members of a family.

Dysfunctional negative emotion is characterized by emotions cause by stressful events.

Practically, this case shows dysfunctional negative emotion arising when preferences or demands
are not met. Furthermore, the entire song indicates the highly need of affection because there is
a strong feeling and emotion of loneliness.

According to Ellis, “People are not disturbed by things but rather by their view of
things.” Therefore, in the song “Halik”, the person is bothered by the negative view of her
experience or situation. She was trapped in the memory of her past life, hence, not moving
forward seeing the better things she could have got in the near future.

Recommendation

This research suggests to the reader an open conversation with people they know
experiencing this kind of emotional unease. They should help them divert themselves to the real
world at present with wider opportunities to grow and foster better positive personality.
Consequently, community plays a wide role in the treatment of this dysfunctional emotion. There
should be open programs such as Sports and other recreational activities that would help
individuals divert ones sadness.
 REFERENCES

Books/Journals:

 Bucks, Mischelle (2010). School and Health Health Education: International Experiences.

 David, D.et al (2004). Functional and Dysfunctional Feelings in Ellis’ Cognitive

Theory of Emotion; An empirical analysis. Cognition and Emotion.

 Mogoase, Cristina & Simona, Ștefan (March 2013). Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral
Psychotherapies, Vol. 13, No. 1. 13-32.

 Paris, B. (1994). Karen Horney: A psychoanalyst's Search for Self-understanding., New

Haven, CT:Yale Univ. Press.

 Pervin, H. (1993). Personality: Theory and Research. New York: Dounely and sons.

Internet:

 David, D., & Avellino, M. “A synopsis of Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT);

Basic/ Fundamental and Applied Research”. 2003.  http://www.rebt.org/synopsis.htm

 Cherry, Kendra. “Contributions of Karen Horney to Psychology’. 2018.

https://www.verywellmind.com/karen-horney

 Cherry, Kendra. “Karen Horney’s Theory of Neurotic Needs”. 2018.

https://www.verywellmind.com/horneys-list-of-neurotic-needs

 McLeod,Saul. “Theories of Personality”. 2017.

https://www.simplypsychology.org/personality-theories.html