Interpersonal Communications Chapter 4

Front 1

Disclosing our emotions to others.

Back 1

Emotion-sharing.

Front 2

The rapid spreading of emotion from person to person, such as anger running through a mob.

Back 2

Emotional contagion

Front 3

An intense reaction to an event that involves interpreting the meaning of the event, becoming physiologically aroused, labeling the experience as emotional, attempting to manage your reaction, and communicating this reaction in the form of emotional displays and disclosures.

Back 3

Emotion

Front 4

Short-term emotional reactions to events that generate only limited arousal, such as the fleeting nostalgia you experience hearing a familiar song.

Back 4

Feelings

Front 5

Low-intensity states of mind that are not caused by particular events and typically last longer than emotions. For example: boredom, contentment, grouchiness, serenity.

Back 5

moods

Front 6

Six emotions that involve unique and consistent behavioral displays across cultures: anger, disgust, fear, joy, sadness, and surprise.

Back 6

primary emotions

Front 7

Two or more primary emotions experienced at the same time. For instance, Melinda feels fear and anger when her daughter is not home after curfew.

Back 7

blended emotions

Front 8

Cultural norms guiding appropriate ways to manage and communicate emotions. For example, customary ways to show grief range from stoic reserve to open weeping to exaggerated wailing.

Back 8

display rules

Front 9

A therapy developed by psychologist Albert Ellis that helps neurotic patients systemically purge themselves of the tendency to think negative thoughts about themselves.

Back 9

Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy

Front 10

The ability to accurately interpret your and others’ emotions and, use this information to manage emotions, communicate them constructively, and solve relationship problems.

Back 10

emotional intelligence

Front 11

Attempts to influence which emotions you have, when you have them, and how you experience and express them.

Back 11

emotion management

Front 12

Inhibiting thoughts, arousal, and outward behavioral displays of emotion. For example, Amanda stifles her anger, knowing it will kill her chances of receiving a good tip.

Back 12

suppression

Front 13

Allowing emotions to dominate your throughts and explosively expressing them, such as shrieking in happiness or storming into an office in a rage.

Back 13

venting

Front 14

Preventing unwanted emotions by keeping away from situations or people likely to provoke them. For example, Jessica infuriates Roxanne, so Roxanne moves out of their shared apartment

Back 14

encounter avoidance

Front 15

Preventing unwanted emotions by avoiding discussion of difficult topics in encounters with others. For instance, Natalie and Julie avoid talking about living expenses because Natalie is jealous of Julie’s income.

Back 15

encounter structuring

Front 16

Preventing unwanted emotions by intentionally devoting your attention only to aspects of an event or encounter that you know will not provoke those emotions. For example, you disregard your uncle’s snide comments while forcing all your interest on your aunt’s conversation.

Back 16

attention focus

Front 17

Preventing unwanted emotions by systematically desensitizing yourself to emotional experience. For example, Josh insulates himself with numbness after his wife’s death.

Back 17

deactivation

Front 18

Actively changing how you think about the meaning of emotions-eliciting situations so that their emotional impact is changed. For instance, though previously fearful of giving a speech, Luke reduces his anxiety by repeating positive affirmations and getting excited about the chance to share what he knows.

Back 18

reappraisal

Front 19

The negative primary emotion that occurs when you are blocked or interrupted from attaining an important goal by what you see as the improper action of an external agent.

Back 19

anger

Front 20

A persistent state of simmering or barely suppressed anger and constant negative thinking.

Back 20

chronic hostility

Front 21

Within the field of interpersonal communication, the assumption that openly expressing emotions enables you to purge them.

Back 21

catharsis

Front 22

A strategy to manage your anger that involves counting slowly to 10 before responding to someone who says or does something that makes you angry. (The strategy was named after the third president of the United States.)

Back 22

Jefferson strategy

Front 23

A blended emotion of joy and surprise coupled with other positive feelings like excitement, amazement, and sexual attraction.

Back 23

passion

Front 24

Intense sadness that follows a substantial loss (such as the death of a loved one).

Back 24

grief

Front 25

Sharing messages that express emotional support and that offer personal assistance, such as telling a person of your sympathy or listening to someone without judging.

Back 25

supportive communication