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The Importance and Functionality of Emotions
Jul 16, 2024
Lecture: The Importance and Functionality of Emotions
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain
Rare condition affecting around 100 people worldwide
Children born without the ability to feel pain
Example: Isaac
Self-harm (e.g., smacking his face, chewing tongue, poking eyes)
Lacked pain receptors to warn him of harm
Example: Ashlynn
Did not cry when in discomfort (e.g., tear on cornea)
Lives in constant danger due to lack of pain as a warning system
Created a Facebook group called "The Gift of Pain" for families with this condition
Concept of Pain and Emotions
Pain can seem negative but serves a crucial protective role
Each emotion has a function and purpose
Examples of emotions and their purposes:
Fear:
Alerts to danger
Sadness:
Signals loss or unmet needs
Joy:
Indicates satisfaction and motivates repetition of positive behaviors
Guilt:
Encourages correction of wrong actions
Love:
Promotes connection and sacrifice for others
Hopelessness:
Suggests reconsidering efforts when outcomes seem futile
Misconceptions About Emotions
Cultural tendency to label emotions as "positive" or "negative"
Emotions are meant to be felt and utilized, not suppressed
Example of
Guilt
Feeling guilt after wrongdoing is appropriate and motivates corrective action
The Role of Coping Skills
Coping skills aim at short-term relief and fail to address emotions' underlying causes
Different alternatives to handling emotions beyond usual coping mechanisms
Pausing and Exploring:
Taking time to understand the emotion before reacting
Helps in making informed responses rather than suppressing or reacting impulsively
Additional Functionality of Emotions
Emotions as warning signs
Motivating changes in behavior
Facilitating human connection
Example of
Anger:
Motivates action to correct perceived injustice or protect
Emotions in the Context of Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety disorders can be seen as distortions/exaggerations of normal emotions
Addressing root emotions like sadness and fear to better manage these disorders
Sensitivity to Emotions
People have varied levels of emotional sensitivity
High sensitivity can be functional for community safety
Low sensitivity can be advantageous in other scenarios but can lead to social issues like sociopathy
Reflective Activity
Understanding the function of recent intense emotions
Workbook activity to explore actions and purposes of these emotions
Key Takeaways
Emotions are valuable tools for navigating life
Functional use of emotions leads to a life of meaning and integrity
Suppression of emotions leads to unresolved issues and unhealthy coping mechanisms
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