Chapter 2:

Understanding Emotions
 Mental health Check
1. What are you looking forward to your OJT?
2. What are your feelings?
 Objectives
Understand the origin and
functions of positive affect
and positive emotions. 
Reflect on the importance
of emotional intelligence.
 Topics
1. Differentiating emotions, mood, and
affect; 
2. Neuroscience of positive emotions;  
3. The broaden-and-build theory of
positive emotions; and 
4. The Emotional Intelligence
 Have you ever been….
For this activity, think of a time when you were angry
and how you handled it. Describe your reaction and
behaviors in the lines provided below.
Have you ever been….
• BREATHE DEEPLY
• TAKE A BREAK
• GO FOR A WALK
• TAKE A SHOWER
• DISTRACT
YOURSELF
• LIE DOWN
• THINK BEFORE
SPEAKING
WRITE ABOUT IT
 What are EMOTIONS?
• An emotion can be defined as a ‘psychological
state defined by subjective feelings but also
characteristic patterns of physiological arousal
thought and behaviours’
• Emotions tend to focus on a specific event or
circumstance during the past, present or future.
• Usually short-lived
 What about MOODS…
 They are floating or objectless, more long-
lasting, and occupy the background
consciousness;
 unfocused and enduring
 Emotions in Positive Psychology
 Hedonic Capacity-refers to our ability to feel
good.
 Affectivity-extent to which an individual
experiences positive/negative moods.
 Positive affect (someone experiences
joy, contentment, etc.)
 Negative affect (someone experiences
feelings such as sadness or fear)
 Basic Human Emotions
(it varies….)
 Paul Ekman, a researcher on emotions and
expression, said that there are six human emotions:
1. Anger
2. Disgust
3. Fear
4. Joy
5. Sadness
6. Surprise
 Basic Human Emotions
(it varies….)
 Some said that there are 10 basic human emotions:
1. Anger
2. Contempt
3. Disgust
4. Distress
5. Fear
6. Guilt
7. Interest
8. Joy
9. Shame
10. Surprise
Why do we have to label one’s emotions?

1. What will we do if our client does not want to

open-up about his/her emotions?
2. What is the benefit of knowing one’s
emotions?
Why do we have label one’s emotions?
Broaden-and-Build Theory
 Broadening Effect
• This proposes that when we experience one of
the main positive emotions, our minds tend to
open up – or broaden – and we are able to
think ‘outside the box.’
• Better view of situations leads us to generate
alternative solutions
 Building Effect
• The experience of positive emotions coupled
with the broadening effect has the ability to
build personal resources, which we are able to
dip into when needed.
• Problem solving, being open to learning, better
physical health, psychological resources (e.g.
resilience, optimism, sense of identity etc.)
 Undoing Effect
• When we feel anxiety or stress or any other
negative emotions, experiencing positive
emotions can help our bodies return to normal
physiological functioning significantly faster
than any other types of emotion.
Broaden-and-Build Theory
 Where do positive emotions come from?

• Two main theories:

 The function and structure of the brain
 Emotions, goal, and discrepancy theory
The emotional part of the brain
• Prefrontal Cortex and
Amygdala are
responsible for our
emotions and emotion
regulation systems of
the body.
 The emotional part of the brain
• Dopamine-neurotransmitters
responsible for pleasure.
Limited amount can subdue
our motivation while high
levels can cause mania
• VTA-pleasure center

NOTE: Nurturing environment is still important in one’s

emotion regulation.
 Discrepancy Theory
Let’s go back to our goal and motivation
theories:
 Goals serve as reference point.
 Our everyday decisions are anchored on these
goals.
 We are constantly assessing our current state
in relation to some standard or desired goal.
 Discrepancy Theory
Let’s go back to our goal and motivation
theories:
• there is discrepancy between where people are
and where they want to be (reference value).
 Emotional Intelligence
• as the ‘ability to monitor one’s own and
others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate
among them, and to use this information to
guide one’s thinking and action.’
• Emotions have use and they send us messages
to let us know how we feel about people or
situations
 Emotional Intelligence: Ability Model

 Perceiving emotions
• recognizing your and other emotions
• How do you feel? How do other feel?
 Using emotions
• Use to facilitate moods
• How does your mood influence your decision-
making?
 Emotional Intelligence: Ability Model

 Understanding emotions
• Understanding how complex emotions
• Why are you feeling this? What these
emotions tell you?
 Managing emotions
• Self-regulate or manage your emotions
• Is these emotions appropriate for the
situations?
 Emotional Intelligence: Mixed Model
• managing emotions, where one engages in reframing anxiety
and attempting to dismiss feelings of distress;
• using emotion for self-motivation, where one becomes
proficient in delaying gratification for future success;
• recognizing emotions in others, where one has the ability to
exhibit empathy, which is important for social relationships;
• managing emotions in others, where one is able to help others
with their distress or encourage motivation;
• emotional self-awareness, where one is able to understand and
identify one’s own emotions.
 Asynchronous Activity #2
• Using an unobtrusive naturalistic observation (observation from
afar), determine the emotions that are expressed (or suppressed) in
your family or *a family of interest.
• Using Google Document, answer the following questions:

1. Provide a short description of this family. DO NOT INCLUDE

ANY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FAMILY,
for confidentiality purposes.
2. What were the emotions observed?
3. How did you see emotions expressed/suppressed/invalidated?
4. Did you “observe” effects when emotions are
expressed/suppressed/invalidated? Please explain.