Emotional Self: In-Depth Exploration

Definition of Emotion:

- Marsha Linehan’s concept of emotion as a “full-system response” entails a holistic experience,

encompassing feelings, thoughts, and physiological reactions.

- McKay, Wood, and Brantly define emotions as dynamic signals providing constant updates about
personal experiences and the surrounding environment.

- Emotions, according to Ian Burkitt, are intertwined with bodily sensations and reflective
consciousness, forming within specific relational contexts.

Importance of Emotions:

- Emotions serve three primary functions, as outlined by Dialectic Behavior Therapy:

1. Communication: Facial expressions, body language, and tone convey emotions, facilitating
interaction.

2. Motivation: Emotions prompt action, directing individuals to act and stay focused in various
situations.

3. Information: Emotions act as signals, providing preliminary information about situations before
the brain fully processes them.

- Emotions, per McKay, Wood, and Brantly, play crucial roles in helping individuals:

1. Survive: Reacting to threats or dangers.

2. Remember: Recalling people and situations.

3. Cope: Dealing with daily life challenges.

4. Communicate: Expressing feelings to others.

5. Avoid Pain: Protective response.

6. Seek Pleasure: Pursuing enjoyable experiences.

The Emotional Self: Embodiment Theory:

- The Embodiment Theory, articulated by Reed and Moody, emphasizes the profound impact of
bodily experiences on emotional understanding.

- Ian Burkitt posits that humans are embodied emotional beings, with feelings and emotions gaining
meaning through both bodily sensations and reflective consciousness.

- Emotional self-development is intricately tied to relations and communicative interactions with

others, forming through embodied social interactions.
Adolescent Emotions:

- Offer and Schonert-Reichl’s research challenges the stereotype of a tumultuous adolescence,

suggesting that 80-85% of adolescents experience a predominantly happy youth.

- The heightened emotional stress in adolescence is attributed to conflicts arising from the shift in
significant relationships from family to peers.

- Adolescents may face a variety of difficulties, such as problems with family or siblings, leading to
internalizing (anxiety, depression) and externalizing (aggression, defiance) behaviors.

Parent-Adolescent Relationship:

- Factors influencing adolescent risk behavior include family constellation, social status, and the
quality of family relationships.

- Pubertal maturation often leads to conflicts between adolescents and parents, challenging the
belief that conflict diminishes as adolescents mature.

- Stress related to parents, lack of support, and issues related to sexual identity can contribute to
poor attitudes and suicidal ideation in adolescents.

Peer Group:

- Adolescence is marked by a shift towards peers becoming the most significant individuals in an
adolescent’s life.

- Peer influence often conflicts with parental values, leading to heightened conflict, particularly
around the ninth grade.

- Friendship development involves negotiation and discourse, allowing adolescents to explore diverse
aspects of themselves with the guarantee of feedback.

Dealing with Emotional Self:

- Emotional regulation involves cognitive reappraisal, where individuals evaluate situations before
forming personal judgments, allowing for logical responses.

- Suppression, another form of emotional regulation, involves denying and masking facial expressions
to hide emotional states, which may be useful in specific situations.

- Self-esteem, the overall judgment of oneself, is influenced by childhood experiences, particularly

parental behavior and messages.

Reconnecting with Body and Emotions:

- Marianne Woodman emphasizes the importance of body awareness for confidence, asserting that
what one knows intellectually may not sustain in moments of crisis.
- Body memories, associated with bodily sensations, can unconsciously impact emotions,
demonstrating the need to reconnect with the body for emotional expression and release.

Learning About Yourself through Emotions:

- Being mindful of emotions, without inhibition or judgment, is crucial for discovering one’s authentic
self.

- Daniel Goldman highlights self-awareness as the keystone of emotional intelligence, enabling

individuals to navigate life with psychological insight and understanding.

Fill Up Your Emptiness with Your Own Feelings:

- Survivors of neglect or abuse may seek external sources for completeness, but true
fulfillment comes from within, acknowledging that no one else can complete an individual
except themselves.

Shedding Idealized Self-Image:

- Striving for an idealized self-image, often influenced by parental approval, may lead to anxiety and
exhaustion.

- Embracing one’s true self fosters inner peace and self-improvement, prompting individuals to assess
whether their idealized image brings peace, confidence, or anxiety.