Emotions in the Workplace

Importance of Emotions

• More important than IQ for success.
• Enhances communication, relationships, conflict resolution, and customer relations.
• Impacts performance ethically and practically.

Functions of Emotions

• Guide appraisal and response to social situations.
• Provide information about ourselves and others.
• Motivate behavior with practical basis.

Defining Emotions

• Physiological, behavioral, and psychological responses to objects, people, or events.
• Involve bodily arousal and observable expressions.

Affective States

• Emotions and moods change, referred to as affective states
• Trait affectivity: stable tendency to experience pleasant/unpleasant emotions.
  • High positive affectivity: energy, joviality, self-assurance, attentiveness.
  • Negative affectivity: discomfort across situations, focus on negatives.

Circumplex Model of Emotions

• Valence: positive or negative evaluation of emotions.
• Activation: extent to which emotion energizes action.
• Positive emotions increase effort when active.

Emotions, Attitudes, and Behavior

• Attitudes comprise beliefs, feelings, and behavioral intentions.
• Beliefs: perceptions about an object/event.
• Feelings: positive or negative evaluations.
• Behavioral intentions: planned behavior regarding the object/event.

Cognitive Dissonance

• Discomfort from holding inconsistent beliefs.

Emotional Dissonance

• Conflict between displayed and felt emotions.
• Consequences: decreased job satisfaction, emotional exhaustion, stress, intention to leave.

Key Topics

• Emotional Labour
• Emotional Intelligence
• Stress in the workplace