Understanding Emotions and Their Impact on Well-Being

Feeling

Internal psychological state

Emotion

External representation of internal state

Affect

Current internal psychological state at a given moment

Mood

Internal psychological state over a relatively short period of time

Circumplex Model of Emotion

Valence: Pleasantness (positive vs. negative); Arousal: Activation level (activating vs. deactivating)

Basic Emotions

Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Surprise

Discrete Emotions

Guilt, Shame, Pride, Embarrassment

Emotional Awareness

Knowing when feelings are present

Emotional Differentiation

Ability to distinguish emotions

James-Lange Theory

Physiological response → Emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory

Simultaneous physiological and emotional response

Schachter-Singer Theory

Physiological arousal + cognitive appraisal → Emotion

Theory of Constructed Emotion

Emotion categories are conceptual, not biological; Perceiver-dependent; Multiple neural regions involved

Children and Emotion Development

Start to develop neural regions for understanding others' feelings

Adolescents and Emotion Development

Heightened intensity and variability of emotion; Increased negative emotion, decreased positive emotion

Adults and Emotion Development

Less intense, less varied emotions; Lower positive and negative emotion, less emotional reactivity

Emotion Regulation Process

1. Situation Selection → Choose environments that reduce stress; 2. Situation Modification → Change aspects of the environment; 3. Attentional Deployment → Shift focus; 4. Cognitive Change → Reappraise the situation

Response Modulation

Manage behavioral/physiological response

Cognitive Reappraisal

Changing perspective on a situation

Expressive Suppression

Hiding emotions from others

Avoidant Coping

Self-distraction, denial, substance use, disengagement

Emotion-Focused Coping

Using emotional support, humor, acceptance, venting

Problem-Focused Coping

Using instrumental support, planning, positive reframing, religion

Primary Control Coping

Acting on the stressor (problem-solving, emotional expression)

Secondary Control Coping

Adapting to the stressor (acceptance, positive thinking)

Chronic Stress Effects

Increased inflammation and cortisol

Positive Affect Benefits

Lower cortisol, inflammation, and sympathetic activity

Duchenne Smiles

Genuine smiles (eyes included)

Negative Valence & Health

Related to pro-inflammatory gene expression

Emotional Variability & Health

Higher emotional variability → Poorer health, increased alcohol use

Mindfulness

Formal (meditation) and informal use

Exercise

2.5 hours moderate / 75 min vigorous per week

Gratitude Practices

Journaling → Increased optimism, better sleep

Prosocial Behavior

Voluntary, intentional actions that benefit another person

Altruism

Prosocial behavior motivated by a genuine desire to help without self-benefit

Contribution

Actions that promote a shared goal

Types of Prosocial Behavior

Public, Anonymous, Compliant, Altruistic, Emotional, Dire

Motivations for Prosocial Behavior

Promotes social acceptance, reduces personal distress, increases empathy and care for others

Adolescents and Prosocial Behavior

General increase in prosocial behavior

Giving Behavior

Can promote both positive and negative affect

Scrooge Effect

Awareness of death increases prosocial behavior

Generativity

Developmental task of fulfilling one's role to support the next generation

Prosocial Behavior & Well-Being

Can be stressful (resource-limited situations) but also reduces stress and increases positive emotions

Emotional Support

Listening and validating feelings

Instrumental Support

Providing tangible help (e.g., buying something to improve mood)

HPA Axis & Support

Providing social support impacts stress responses

Collectivist Cultures

Emphasize community and interdependence

Tend and Befriend Hypothesis

People cope with threats by nurturing others and seeking social support

PERMA Model (Seligman)

Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment

Hedonic Well-Being

Happiness & life satisfaction; short-term, pleasure-driven

Eudaimonic Well-Being

Purpose in life → Better emotion regulation, lower stress

Mind-Body Approaches

Mindfulness meditation → Reduces depression, inflammation

Generativity

Developmental task of fulfilling one's role to support the next generation, producing for the benefit of others

After a Stressor (TSST Study)

People tend to donate more money

Prosocial Behavior & Well-Being

Can be stressful (resource-limited situations)

Stress Buffering

Daily prosocial behavior lowers stress reactivity

PVEST Model

Identities shape motivation for community engagement

Social Role Theory

Fulfilling social roles is gratifying

PERMA Model (Seligman)

Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment

Carol Ryff's Model

Purpose in life, autonomy, personal growth, self-acceptance, environmental mastery, relationships

Self-Determination Theory

Basic Needs: Competence, Relatedness, Autonomy

Hedonic Well-Being

Happiness & life satisfaction

Cognitive Appraisals

Challenge vs. Threat Mindset → Reframing perspectives

Cultivating Positive Psychological Constructs

Optimism → Expecting positive outcomes

Self-Affirmation Interventions

Affirming core values → Better health behaviors, lower stress, improved medication adherence

Gratitude & Health

Helping others → Lower inflammation levels