LACS L4

emotions as the signal system of the body

the challenge

• marvin’s path

• faced a rush of stress, worry, and impulse in late adolescence that felt uncontrollable

the strategy

• marvin’s path

• instead of ignoring, he paid attention to triggers and practiced pausing before reacting

the toolkit

• marvin’s path

• he developed __ including deep breathing, journaling, and talking to trusted mentors

physiological

• the body’s automated hardware response (e.g, heart racing, temperature dropping)

• experiential

• behavioral

experiential

the subjective feeling or internal narrative (e.g, perceiving a threat)

behavioral

the outward, observable output (e.g, expressing an outburst over a failed quiz)

primary emotions

joy, fear, anger, sadness, surprise, disgust

secondary emotions

• require introspection (“why did i feel that way?”) they are learned responses, often blatantly imposed by family and society

• interpretation and caregiver modeling

emotions

• play a key role in our lives by motivating behavior, guiding decisions, and enhancing empathy

• are not just reactions, they are signals that guide behavior, decision making, and empathy

• understanding them helps students recognize how feelings influence choices and relationships

motivate behavior

emotions encourage us to repeat positive actions and avoid negative ones

guide decisions

emotions influence both small and major choices

enhance understanding

emotions help others interpret our feelings through expressions and actions

emotional turbulence

• adolescents often experience __ that shows through irritability, anger, anxiety, or withdrawal

• these behaviors reflect inner stress rather than defiance

• recognizing these signs helps teachers and peers respond with empathy and support, fostering a safe space for emotional expression

academic pressure

unpredictable demands and high standards resulting self-doubt, burnout, and heightened anxiety

bullying

negative experiences impacting self esteem; risk of substance use as a coping mechanism

family dynamics

friction from seeking independence and decision making clashing with parents and siblings

romantic relationships

a source of intense joy and stress while navigating and discovering parts of one’s identity

sexual orientation

who we are attracted to

gender identity

our internal sense of self

gender expression

how we outwardly present

hiya as a passion

feelings of shame or embarrasment (making one timid/meek)

hiya as a virtue

conscious control to prioritize others’ welfare (pakikisama). fear of being labeled walang hiya

emotional suppression

masking true feelings from parents and peers

physical impact of emotional suppression

cardiovascular diseases (hypertension), headaches, muscle tension, IBS, ulcers

psychological impact of emotional suppression

anxiety, depression, emotional detachment, inability to resolve conflicts

the complexity of signals

emotions are not just thoughts; they are __ reactions involving bodily responses and behaviors. Intensity scales with how meaningful the event is to you

evolution of feeling

primary emotions appear immediately and naturally, secondary emotions develop afterward, shaped by our interpretations, beliefs, and personal values

the function of signals

emotions play a viral role in motivating behavior, guiding decisions, and navigating identity, regulate them; do not suppress them