Module 2: Empathy & Stress Worksheet

OGL 220

Amanda Piotrowski

9/6/20

Question 1

Emotional Intelligence Instruments

Reflect on what you learned about the concept of emotional intelligence based on what you read in your
textbook and online. Based on your results with the EI tools, what would you consider to be your
strengths and weaknesses with respect to emotional intelligence? Discuss the concept with a loved one,
friend, or trusted colleague. What are their perceptions with respect to your self-appraisal?

Your Answer:

Based off the readings and the results from the emotional intelligence quiz, I think I have high emotional
intelligence. Even before the quiz I always felt like I was good at staying in tune with myself and being
able to feel the vibes of others. I genuinely enjoy receiving feedback on my performance at work, that
way I know what areas I need to improve on. I do not get offended easily when it comes to constructive
criticism, and I like to be self-aware. I would say a weakness of mine would be that at times I can get
social anxiety in certain situations, trying to be highly aware of my behaviors and emotions. For
example, meeting my husbands’ mother for the first time. I asked my husband his thoughts about this
concept, and he feels that I accurately represented my input. I do find it interesting though how my
anxieties could be related to high emotional intelligence.

Question 2

Radical Experiment in Empathy

What did you think of the "Radical Experiment in Empathy" video? Were you able to “step outside of
your thoughts and behavioral patterns” and reserve a part of your mental capacity to “listen” to and
monitor your internal reactions as a means of gaining a deeper insight into the nature of yourself?
What’s your perspective on this notion of “self-awareness” in the present moment as a tool to learn
more about yourself? Was this “radical experiment” an effective one in terms of helping you
understand the concept of empathy?

Make some connections between the “Radical Experiment in Empathy” TED Talk and the ideas you have
been reading and learning about this week. Be sure to describe your connections carefully and use in-
text cites as applicable.

Your Answer:
This video and experiment are important, and we need more people out there spreading this message. I
think especially in today’s time and political stance, our nation could practice some empathy for ALL
people. I was able to step outside my thoughts and into the shoes of this family in Baghdad, Iraq. I
understand that I could never fully understand the pain, suffering, and deep struggles that these men,
women, and children must go through. This video is not the first time or the last time I have felt
empathy for the people in poverty of other countries. It breaks my heart. This experiment highlighted
the empathy that I already feel and makes me feel deeper. Our country needs more empathy.

This radical experiment connects to the topics of emotion and values from our readings. Personality
traits like Agreeableness and Self-awareness has a lot to do with being able to give empathy. "Accurate
way of assessing someone’s values is to ask them to rank the 36 values in order of importance. By
comparing these values, people develop a sense of which value can be sacrificed to achieve the other,
and the individual priority of each value emerges." (Chapter 3.3). How can we get people to have
empathy as a top value?

Question 3

Stress: Portrait of a Killer

Contrast your textbook’s discussion of stress with National Geographic’s documentary “Stress: Portrait
of a Killer.” What, specifically, was most interesting to you with respect to the film? What kinds of
connections can you make between stress, personality, and human behavior in the workplace? (Be
explicit)

Provide a couple of examples of specific stressful situations from your life – as well as your own stress-
related behaviors in those instances.

What stress management approaches work best for you? Based on what you learned here, what might
be some additional strategies you might employ to reduce your stress?

Your Answer:

I have had a few highly stressful situations throughout my life. This year 2020 specifically brought a lot of
stress. In January I gave birth to my first child, and it was one of the most stressful and intense
experiences of my life. A lot of the days leading up to her birth I had bouts of stress and anxieties plus
raging hormones. Once she was here and we went home, life was good again. Then, the pandemic
happened. Fast forward 7 months, and I am working 30 hours a week, taking care of/exclusively
breastfeeding my 7-month-old, attending school full time, and living with my in-laws so my husband and
I can save money for our house. Right now, my life has been busier than ever, and I would say I am
under a lot of stress. I cope by trying to exercise daily, and thankfully I have an amazing support system.
It really does take a village. I think everyone this year is feeling a lot of stressors and we’re all just trying
to get through.

The way I have dealt with stress in the past and currently is by getting outside. Whether it is walking,
bike riding, or even just sitting outside and getting fresh air for a little while. I like to reminisce on the
year I lived in Vail, CO as a ski bum. It was the most stress free I had ever been in my entire life although
I was financially struggling. I was outside every single day and loved it. Now, I live in Chicagoland and
have a baby and am in school and working, so I aim for at least a short stroller walk a day. Based off
what I learned in this module, I would implement trying to eat better, perhaps more fish to increase
those omega 3’s to help stabilize my mood and hormones. I would also like to do more yoga as I used to
do that a lot before mom-life.