MHW2 Interpersonal emotion dynamics
Page 1: Interpersonal Emotion Dynamics
Course: PS51019A Mental Health and Wellbeing Module 1 Block 2
Instructor: Diana Omigie
Page 2: Lecture Schedule
Week 1
Lecture 1: What is an emotion?
Lecture 2: Biology of emotion
Lecture 3: The emotional brain
Week 2
Seminar 1: Development of emotion
Lecture 1: Interpersonal emotion dynamics
Seminar 2: Behavioral experiment
Week 3
Lecture 1: Emotion regulation
Seminar 1: Individual differences in emotional experiences
Lecture 2: Motivation
Page 3: Learning Outcomes
Ability to describe and illustrate three types of interpersonal affective dynamics:
Synchrony
Transmission
Co-regulation
Consider the interpersonal functions of emotional expressions, such as tears.
Page 4: The Experience of Emotions
Definition: Emotions are dynamic systems made up of three components:
Subjective experience
Expressive behavior
Physiology
Interpersonal Nature: Emotions predominantly occur in social contexts and involve interpersonal dimensions.
Page 5: Emotions as Social
Key Concepts from Parkinson (1996):
Emotions emerge through direct interactions, not just private interpretations.
Interpersonal factors cause emotions, influencing social engagement or retreat.
Page 6: Interpersonal Processes
Butler (2011) on Interpersonal Emotion Systems:
Emotional responses are affected by social interactions, affecting both individuals simultaneously.
Relevant to various types of relationships:
Parent–child
Adult romantic
Therapist–client
Families
Work groups and peer groups
Page 7: Interpersonal Processes
Butler (2015) identifies various interpersonal emotional dynamics:
Synchrony: Emotions rising and falling in unison.
Transmission: Emotions influencing each other over time.
Co-regulation: Emotional convergence or divergence of partners' emotions.
Page 8: Synchrony
Definition: Simultaneously experiencing the same stimuli and emotional reactions.
Examples: Watching a film together may lead to shared emotional experiences and co-construction of emotional meaning.
Page 9: Synchrony Research
Anderson et al. (2003) observed that dating partners and college roommates develop similar emotional responses over time.
Page 10: Power Dynamics in Synchrony
Study Findings:
Participants with less power in relationships adapt their emotions more to their partners.
Cross-lagged correlations indicated significant emotional convergence based on power dynamics.
Page 11: Cohesion in Relationships
Findings by Anderson et al. (2003) showed that partners with similar emotional responses have stronger relationship cohesion and lower dissolution rates.
Page 12: Explanations for Emotional Convergence
Factors influencing convergence:
Similar appraisal patterns
Responding similarly even when apart
Emotional contagion in close relationships with shared goals.
Appraisal Theories (Citations): Arnold (1960), Lazarus (1991), etc.
Page 13: Transmission
Definition: Responding to others' emotional states and behaviors impacting future feelings.
Page 14: Marital Satisfaction Study
Levenson & Gottman (1983) examined physiological and affective patterns in marital satisfaction among 30 couples:
Measured multiple physiological responses to establish affect reciprocity.
Page 15: Findings on Marital Satisfaction
Key Results:
60% of marital satisfaction variance was linked to physiological patterns.
Distressed couples demonstrated greater linkage and reciprocity of negative affect.
Page 16: Parental Influence on Children
Snyder et al. (2003): Studied impact of parental responses on children's anger and antisocial behaviors:
Coded anger displays and assessed antisocial behavior longitudinally.
Page 17: Child Anger Predictors
Findings indicated that parents' emotional responses significantly influenced children's anger and behaviors.
Page 18: Interpersonal Emotional Regulation
People often seek to manage their partner's emotions, which can be both conscious and unconscious.
Examples:
Positive: Holding hands to reduce stress.
Negative: Co-rumination leading to increased anxiety.
Page 19: Emotional Regulation Variability
Dixon-Gordon et al. (2015) noted that emotional regulation varies by:
Target: Self vs. Others
Intention: Intentional vs. Unintentional
Page 20: Study on Emotion Regulation
Levy-Gigi & Shamay-Tsoory (2017):
Examined effectiveness of inter-partner vs. self-regulated strategies on distress reduction.
Page 21: Effective Regulation Strategies
Findings: Regulatory strategies chosen by partners are more effective in reducing distress than personal strategies when the partner has an understanding perspective.
Page 22: Function of Gratitude
Chang et al. (2022): Explored gratitude interactions within couples and its impact on relationship satisfaction:
Situational gratitude uniquely predicted increases in relationship satisfaction.
Page 23: Function of Tears
Zickfeld et al. (2021): Emotional crying can trigger social support intentions from others.
Page 24: Role of Empathy
Empathy involves sharing or responding appropriately to another's emotional states.
Techniques measure responses to stimuli depicting emotions.
Page 25: Empathy and Interpersonal Regulation
Geiger et al. (2024): Found that facets of empathy correlate with interpersonal emotional regulation goals.
Page 26: Mirroring and Competence
Pfeifer et al. (2008): Studied the mirror neuron system's role in children's empathy and interpersonal skills.
Page 27: Relationship Between MNS Activity and Social Skills
MNS activity was positively correlated with children's empathetic behavior and interpersonal competence measures.
Page 28: Summary
Emotions are primarily social and driven by interpersonal dynamics, including synchrony, transmission, and co-regulation.
Emotional expressions have significant effects on relationships, and empathy plays a crucial role in emotional regulation.
Page 29: Essential Reading
Butler (2015). Interpersonal affect dynamics: It takes two (and time) to tango. Emotion Review, 7(4), 336-341.
Page 30: Recommended Reading
Additional studies for deeper understanding of interpersonal emotions and dynamics.
Page 31: References
Comprehensive citations for the studies mentioned in the lectures, including significant research by Butler, Levenson & Gottman, etc.
Page 32: Additional References
Further readings supporting the concepts discussed.