1. what are they? why do we have them? what can they teach us? how best can we work with them?

2. some sources of inspiration  Damasio A. Descartes’ error: emotion, reason and the human brain. London: Papermac, 1996  Gendlin E. Focusing-oriented psychotherapy: a manual of the experiential method. New York: Guilford, 1996  Kennedy-Moore E & Watson J. Expressing emotion: myths, realities, & therapeutic strategies. New York: Guilford, 1999  Damasio A. The feeling of what happens: body, emotion and the making of consciousness. London: Vintage, 2000  Lepore S. & Smyth J. The writing cure: how expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being. Washington: American Psychological Association, 2002  Greenberg L. Emotion-focused therapy: coaching clients to work through their feelings. Washington: APA, 2002

3. definitions of emotion  oed: “disturbance of mind; mental sensation or state; instinctive feeling as opposed to reason.” [from French émouvoir=to excite & mouvoir=to move]  encyclopedia brittanica: “a distinct feeling or quality of consciousness, such as joy or sadness, that reflects the personal significance of an emotion-arousing event...”  columbia encyclopedia: “term commonly and loosely used to denote individual, subjective feelings which dictate moods. In psychology, emotion is considered a response to stimuli that involves characteristic physiological changes— such as increase in pulse rate, rise in body temperature, greater or less activity of certain glands, change in rate of breathing … “

4. what are emotions & feelings? internal feelings physiological reactions reflection external observ- able responses adapted from: Kennedy- Moore E & Watson J. Expressing emotion: myths, realities, and therapeutic strategies. New York: Guilford Press, 1999.

5. types of emotion & feeling  six primary/universal emotions happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise, disgust  secondary/social emotions e.g. pride, jealousy, guilt, shame, embarrassment  background emotions e.g. excitement, energy/fatigue, wellness/sickness, harmony/discord, relaxation/tension, stability/instability, balance/imbalance  moods, drives & motivations moods are made up of modulated & sustained primary, secondary or background emotions; drives & motivations express themselves and are detectable through background emotions the following classification system is from: Damasio A. The feeling of what happens. London: Vintage, 2000

6. what do emotions do?  prepare the body-mind for “appropriate” action heart rate, blood flow, hormones, & also changes in memory, thinking, etc  provide information on how situation is assessed noting & interpreting feelings, which may be appropriate to energize current action or may be inappropriate & need updating  send out signals to others posture, voice tone, facial expression, speed of movement send signals to others about self and assessment of environment