With financial support from the Daphne III Programme of the European Union
Emotions
Emotional intelligence • It is the ability to identify the emotions of oneself and of others, to motivate oneself and positively manage emotions interiorly and in relationships with others • It is important for success in life: the deepest brain centres which process emotions are the seat of the necessary abilities to control oneself and gain social skills
Emotion
Triggering event specific for each emotion
• “Emotion is a subjective response to an important event, characterized by physiological, experiential and behavioural changes” quickened heartbeat, copious sweating etc. Facial expressions, voice, gestures, posture
Awareness of the sensation generated by physiological changes and perception of the situation that has triggered the emotion
Emotions fear pain
surprise
contempt rage
affection
revulsion anxiety
joy
• Certain stimulus trigger the nervous system and induce facial expressions, similar postures and gestures in all the members of the same species or in the members of species with a common ancestor, universal facial expressions
Studies on emotions and facial expressions
According to a scholar (Ekman - 1973) the seven basic facial expressions shown here are present in all cultures. Other scholars suggest to add embarassment to the list.
emotion
Facial expression
Other changes
Its purpose
Rage
Furrowed brow, open mouth or tight lips
Increased heartbeat and temperature of skin, red face
Overcoming the obstacle, reaching the target
Fear
Raised brows, wide and unflinching eyes
Increased heartbeat, low temperature of the skin, panting breathing
Understanding the threat, preventing danger
Revulsion
Furrowed brow, wrinkled nose, raised upper lip
Slow heartbeat, increased skin resistance
Preventing the revulsionoriginating element
Sadness
Mouth corners down, raised chin
Slowed heartbeat, low temperature and skin resistance
Encouraging others to give consolation
Joy
Mouth corners up, close eyes
Quickened heartbeat, irregular breathing, high skin conductance
Availability to a friendly interaction
Surprise
Wide eyes, raised brows, open mouth, orientation to stimulus
Slowed heartbeat, suspended breathing, reduced muscle tone
Widening the visual field, preparing for a new experience
Empathy Wikipedia: Empathy Empathy is the capacity to fully understand the mood of other people, whether it is joy or pain. • Some studies state that allegedly bullies find it harder to seize the suffering of the victim and to consider the negative consequences of their behaviour
Empathy can inhibit or reduce the aggressive behaviour of a person using two mechanisms: • The more a person • A person who can perceive the can take the point suffering of the of view of others victim is inclined to the more he/she inhibit aggression to can understand and avoid such suffering tolerate their or the personal position even when stress caused by it it is different from theirs
For bullies and victims: increasing empathy, self-esteem, assertiveness • The authors of abuses according to some studies find it more difficult to get in touch with their emotions and to recognize the emotions of others working on empathy developing in victims self-esteem and assertiveness (ability to respond to provocations claiming one's rights and needs, without trampling those of the others
Mechanisms of moral disengagement • moral justification: an unacceptable conduct takes a different meaning if it is at the service of higher moral principles and values (ex.: defending the group of friends) • benevolent labeling: the language can distort the conceptual and moral meaning of a conduct (“Slaps or thrusts are just rough games”) • advantageous comparison: a deplorable action is compared with other more cruel actions which mitigate its opinion of immorality
Mechanisms of moral disengagement II • displacement of responsibility: one's responsibility is referred to others by reducing the weight of one's involvement (for example blaming the family or society) • distribution of responsibility: the responsibility of the individual is dissolved in the responsibility of the group • distortion of consequences: if the suffering of the victim is minimized, distorted or denied, it is easier not to feel guilty (“it is not bad to tell white lies since they do not hurt anyone”)
Mechanisms of moral disengagement III • dehumanization: the victim is represented as “less human”, without feelings, sensitivity, dignity (“it is good to ill-treat people who behave like lousy beings”) • attribution of blame: the victim è is considered deserving of the abuses that he/she suffers because of his/her behaviour
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This presentation has been produced with the financial support of the Daphne III Programme of the European Commission. Contents are the sole responsibility of Scuola Centrale Formazione and its partners and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Commission.