CRIM3-LESSON 7
in which they posited that emotion is the cognitive
HUMAN BEHAVIOR AND COPING/DEFENSE
MECHANISMS
Emotion
Emotion refers to feelings affective responses as a
result of physiological arousal, thoughts and beliefs,
subjective evaluation and bodily expression. It is a
state characterized by facial expressions, gestures,
postures and subjective feelings.
Emotion is associated with mood, temperament,
personality, and disposition. The English
word emotion is derived from the French
word émouvoir. This is based on the
Latin emovere, where e-(variant of ex-) means 'out'
and movere means move. The related
term motivation is also derived from movere.
Theories of Emotion
1. James-Lange Theory by William James and
Carl Lange
James-Lange theory states that emotion results
from physiological states triggered by stimuli in the
environment: emotion occurs after physiological
reactions. This theory and its derivatives states that
a changed situation leads to a changed bodily
state. As James says "the perception of bodily
changes as they occur is the emotion."
James further claims that "we feel sad because we
cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we
tremble, and neither have we cried, strike, nor
tremble because we are sorry, angry, or fearful, as
the case may be." The James Lange theory has
now been all but abandoned by most scholars.
2. Cannon-Bard Theory by Philip Bard and
Walter Cannon
This suggests that people feel emotions first and
then act upon them. This is a theory that emotion
and physiological reactions occur simultaneously.
These actions include changes in muscular tension,
perspiration, etc. The theory was formulated
following the introduction of the James-Lange
theory of Emotion in the late 1800s, which
alternately suggested that emotion is the result of
one's perception of their reaction, or "bodily
change."
Example: I see a man outside my window. I am
afraid. I begin to perspire.
The Cannon-Bard Theory of Emotion is based on
the premise that one reacts to a specific stimulus
and experiences the corresponding emotion
simultaneously. Cannon and Bard posited that one
is able to react to a stimulus only after experiencing
the related emotion and experience.
3. Two Factor Theory
This theory was provided by Schachter & Singer,
interpretation of a physiological response. For
many, this remains the best formulation of emotion.
Most people consider this to be the "common
sense" theory to explain physiological changes;
their physiology changes as a result of their
emotion.
What is Emotional Intelligence (EI)?
El is the area of cognitive ability that facilitates
interpersonal behavior. The term emotional
intelligence was popularized in 1995 by
psychologist and behavioral science journalist Dr.
Daniel Goleman in his book, Emotional Intelligence.
Dr. Goleman described emotional intelligence as a
person's ability to manage his feelings so that those
feelings are expressed appropriately and
effectively.
EI is the capacity to understand and manage
emotion; however, the content and boundaries of
this construct remain unsettled.
Mayer and Salovey, who originally used the term,
defined El as, the ability to perceive emotion,
integrate emotion to facilitate thought, understand
emotions, and to regulate emotions to promote
personal growth.
Five Components of Emotional Intelligence by
Goleman
1. Self-awareness - A person has a healthy sense
of emotional intelligence self-awareness if they
understand their own strengths and weaknesses,
as well as how their actions affect others. A person
with emotional self-awareness is usually receptive
to, and able to learn from, constructive criticism
more than one who doesn't have emotional self-
awareness.
2. Self-regulation - A person with a high emotional
intelligence has the ability to exercise restraint and
control when expressing their emotions.
3. Motivation - People with high emotional
intelligence are self-motivated, resilient and driven
by an inner ambition rather than being influenced
by outside forces, such as money or prestige.
4. Empathy - An empathetic person has
compassion and is able to connect with other
people on an emotional level, helping them respond
genuinely to other people's concerns.
5. Social Skills - People who are emotionally
intelligent are able to build trust with other people,
and are able to quickly gain respect from the
people they meet.
Emotional Intelligence and Criminal Behavior
(Research- Based)
1. The group of convicted offenders obtained
significantly lower scores on all the domains of MEII
(Mangal Emotional Intelligence Inventory) such as b. Two individuals me against you;
intrapersonal awareness (own emotions),
interpersonal awareness (others emotions), c. Inter-group Struggles -us against them;
intrapersonal management (own emotions) and
interpersonal management (others emotions), and d. Individual Opposing a Group - me against them,
aggregate emotional quotient in comparison to their them against me;
normal counterparts. Researchers concluded that,
the convicted offenders' group had significantly e. Intra-group Conflict- members of group all
lower El compared to normal subjects. Starting El against each other on a task.
enhancement program in prison can help the
inmates better understand their feelings and 3. Approach-Avoidance
emotions.
Conflict can be described as having features of
2. Emotional intelligence is deeply related to approach and avoidance: approach-approach,
aggression and offending. avoidance- avoidance, and approach-avoidance.
Approach speaks to things that we want while
3. Persons with high El levels are more able to Avoidance refers to things that we do not want.
moderate their emotions and are less impulsive. On
the other hand, individuals with low El levels are Kinds of Approach-Avoidance
more prone to risky behavior. They also have a
hard time understanding situations from the
a. Approach-Approach Conflict - In Approach-
perspective of others and, therefore, tend to be less
Approach conflict, the individual must choose
empathetic.
between two positive goals of approximately equal
value. In this, two pleasing things are wanted but
4. A reduced capacity to regulate emotions could only one option should be chosen.
possibly maintain offending pattern of behavior in
criminals. For example, internet child sexual abuse
Examples: Choice between two colleges, two
is often preceded by unregulated negative feelings.
roommates, or two ways of spending the summer.
5. A reduced capacity to regulate anger, desire,
b. Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict - Avoidance-
and sexual arousal may result in an assault, theft,
Avoidance conflict involves more obvious sources
and sexual assault, respectively
of stress. The individual must choose between two
or more negative outcomes.
6. Some recent studies, consistently report El
deficits in criminals. In addition, some studies
Examples: Study or do the dishes. I don't want this
indicate that offenders are deficient in
and I don't want that. A woman with an unwanted
subcomponents of El such as social problem-
pregnancy may be morally opposed by abortion.
solving, empathy, social competency, flexibility,
impulse control, and self-regard.
c. Approach-Avoidance Conflict - Approach-
Avoidance conflict exists when there is an attractive
Conflict
and unattractive part to both sides. It arises when
obtaining a positive goal necessitates a negative
Conflict is a stressful condition that occurs when a outcome as well.
person must choose between incompatible or
contradictory alternatives. It is a negative emotional
Examples: Gina is beautiful but she is lazy, "I want
state caused by an inability to choose between two
this but I don't want what this entails".
or more incompatible goals or impulse. 121 Conflict
is the state in which two or more motives cannot be
satisfied because they interfere with one another. Another is the dilemma of the student who is
offered a stolen copy of an important final exam.
Cheating will bring guilt and reduced self-esteem,
Types of Conflict
but also a good grade.
1. Psychological Conflict (Internal Conflict)
d. Multiple-Approach-Avoidance Conflict - This
refers to conflict with complex combinations of
Psychological conflict could be going on inside the approach and avoidance conflicts. It requires
person and no one would know (instinct may be at individual to choose between alternatives that
odds with values). Freud would say unconscious id contain both positive and negative consequences
battling superego and further claimed that our
personalities are always in conflict.
Functional versus Dysfunctional Conflict
2. Social Conflict
a. Dysfunctional Conflict - There is dysfunctional
conflict if conflict disrupts, hinders job performance,
The different kinds of social conflict are: and upsets personal psychological functioning.
a. Interpersonal Conflict;
b. Functional Conflict - There is functional conflict
if conflict is responsive and innovative aiding in
creativity and viability.
Crime and Conflict
Criminal behavior as an indicator of conflict within
the person, emphasizing either:
a. failure to resolve tensions generated in the
course of interaction between the organism and
human figures in its environment and
b. tensions generated by person's inability to satisfy
the contradictory expectations of others, or else to
mobilize the resources needed to perform a role
assigned to him.
Depression
Depression is an illness that causes a person to
feel sad and hopeless much of the time. It is
different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or
low energy. Anyone can have depression. It often
runs in families. But it can also happen to someone
who doesn't have a family history of depression.
You can have depression one time or many times.
Causes of Depression
a. Major events that create stress, such as
childbirth or a death in the family.
b. Illnesses, such as arthritis, heart disease, or
cancer.
c. Certain medicines, such as steroids or narcotics
for pain relief.
d. Drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs.
Symptoms of Depression
a. Think and speak more slowly than normal.
b. Have trouble concentrating, remembering, and
making decisions.
c. Have changes in their eating and sleeping habits.
d. Lose interest in things they enjoyed before they
were depressed.
e. Have feelings of guilt and hopelessness,
wondering if life is worth living.
f. Think a lot about death or suicide.
g. Complain about problems that don't have a
physical cause, such as headache and
stomachache,
Different Forms of Depression
1. Major Depressive Disorder - This is also called
major depression. It is characterized by a
combination of symptoms that interfere with a
person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy
once-pleasurable activities. Major depression is
disabling and prevents a person from functioning
normally. An episode of major depression may
occur only once in a person's lifetime, but more
often, it recurs throughout a person's life.
2. Dysthymic Disorder (or also referred to as
Dysthymia) - The symptoms do not occur for more
than two months at a time. Generally, this type of
depression is described as having persistent but
less severe depressive symptoms than Major
Depression. Manifest nearly constant depressed
mood for at least 2 years accompanied by at least
two (or more) of the following:
a. Decrease or increase in eating;
b. Difficulty sleeping or increase in sleeping;
c. Low energy or fatigue;
d. Low self-esteem:
e. Difficulty concentrating or making decisions; and
f. Feeling hopeless.
3. Psychotic Depression - This occurs when a
severe depressive illness is accompanied by some
form of psychosis, such as a break with reality,
hallucinations, and delusions.
4. Postpartum Depression - This is a major
depressive episode that occurs after having a baby.
A new mother develops a major depressive
episode within one month after delivery. It is
estimated that 10 to 15 percent of women
experience postpartum depression after giving
birth. In rare cases, a woman may have a severe
form of depression called postpartum psychosis.
She may act strangely, see or hear things that
aren't there, and be a danger to herself and her
baby.
5. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) - This is
characterized by the onset of a depressive illness
during the winter months, when there is less natural
sunlight. The depression generally lifts during
spring and summer. SAD may be effectively treated
with light therapy, but nearly half of those with SAD
do not respond to light therapy alone.
Antidepressant medication and psychotherapy can
reduce SAD symptoms, either alone or in
combination with light therapy.
6. Bipolar Disorder - This is also called manic-
depressive illness, is not as common as major
depression or dysthymia, Bipolar disorder is
characterized by cyclical mood changes from
extreme highs (e.g., mania) to extreme lows (e.g.,
depression).
7. Endogenous Depression - Endogenous means
from within the body. This type of depression is
defined as feeling depressed for no apparent
reason.

8. Situational Depression or Reactive

Depression - This is also known as Adjustment
Disorder with Depressed Mood. Depressive
symptoms develop in response to a specific
stressful situation or event (e.g. job loss,
relationship ending). These symptoms occur within
3 months of the stressor and lasts no longer than 6
months after the stressor (or its consequences) has
ended. Depression symptoms cause significant
distress or impairs usual functioning (e.g.
relationships, work, school) and do not meet the
criteria for major depressive disorder.

9. Agitated Depression - This kind of major

depressive disorder is characterized by agitation
such as physical and emotional restlessness,
irritability and insomnia, which is the opposite of
many depressed individuals who have low energy
and feel slowed down physically and mentally
inappropriate social behavior.

How to Battle Depression?

a. Socializing - eating out, movies, ballgames with

family or friends.

b. Helping others in need - volunteer work, feeding

the homeless, etc.

c. Praying - works for all moods, especially

depression.

Depression and Criminality

People with depression might be more likely to

commit a violent crime than those without
depression, a new study suggests. Researchers
analyzed data from more than 47,000 people in
Sweden who were diagnosed with depression and
followed for an average of three years. They were
compared to more than 898,000 gender- and age-
matched people without depression.

People with depression were five to six times more

likely than those in the general population to harm
others or themselves, according to the researchers
at Oxford University in England.

One important finding was that the vast majority of

depressed persons were not convicted of violent
crimes, and that the rates reported are below those
for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and
considerably lower than for alcohol or drug abuse.

Specifically, almost 4% of depressed men and

0.5% of depressed women committed a violent
crime after their depression diagnosis, compared
with slightly more than 1% of men and 0.2% of
women in the general population. "Quite
understandably, there is considerable concern
about self-harm and suicide in depression.