ECCO 2008ECCO-2008 BRUSSELS

Introduction

• My Introduction- Masters in Clinical psychology- Practicing psychotherapist- Experience in psychometric testing and diagnostics; psychotherapy; workshops and teaching- ECCO

* bridging the gap between theory and practice

* concept of an “evolving” marital relationship, based on synergy.

- Special interests and aim – to study cognitive processes of couples and parents during interactions and therapeutic recommendations for the same.

ECCO 2008ECCO-2008 BRUSSELS

Introduction

• Paper IntroductionRESOURCES (cognitive and emotional) COPING

- Cognitive resource eg: problem solving ability

- Emotional resource eg: emotional quotient

Cognitive and emotional resources are effected by EMOTIONAL AROUSAL

1 Objective: to study the effect of Emotional Arousal on Problem Solving Ability and EQ.

2 How can emotional arousal be coped with for better cognition

3 Can we atleast make one recommendation for better problem solving amongst couples

Key concepts

EMOTIONS• Distinctions:1. Emotion and feeling2. Emotion and cause of emotion3. Emotion and result of emotion4. Emotion- Functionalist approach- Nico Frijda

• Dimensions/classification: 1. Bipolar2. Basic and complex3. Primary emotions 4. Meta-emotions5. Occurrence in time6. Emotional dispositions- character traits7. Affective states8. Emotion for episode- “past/present/future”

Key concepts

Theoretical background of emotions

• Evolutionary - natural selection, universality• Physiological – adrenalin, amygdala, hypothalamus• Somatic – James-Lange theory • Cognitive – emotions precede behavior • ECCO view – feedback mechanism• 2 factor – cognition is used to interpret meaning of

physiological reaction to outside events (Shacter & Singer)

• Sociology of emotions – norms, micro and macro rules

Key concepts

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

• Contributions and research

(Darwin, Thorndike, Wechsler, Gardner, Wayne Payne)

• Definitions and Models

1. Ability based EI model (Salovey and Grewal, 2005)

2. Mixed models of EI (Goleman)

3. Trait EI model (Petrides et al, 2000)

4. Reuven Bar-On (2006)- Emotion Quotient

Key concepts

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

• Some Scales of EQ tests

1. Emotional self awareness

2. Empathy

3. Life pressures

Key concepts

EMOTIONAL AROUSAL

• Emotions are products of the Limbic system• Neocortex- processes information, thinks• Fight or flight- “self preservation”

“It may lead to retardation of cognitive processes due to emphasis and focus on self preservation.”

• Lacey(1967)- physiological signs and symptoms • Mandler and Sarason 1980s - Task Irrelevant Cues• Self Preoccupying thoughts eg. catastrophizing• Stress reduces “Attentional capacity”• Modalities.. Relation with relaxation techniques

Key concepts

COGNITION• Cognitive view

THOUGHT EMOTION BEHAVIOR• Cognitive psychotherapy

Focuses on perception, thoughts, judgments, evaluations

PROBLEM SOLVING

• Initial state to goal state (Newell and Simon, 1977)• Modulation and control of fundamental skills (Goldstein

and Levin, 1987)• Real world problem solving

Key concepts

PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF EXPERIENCES DURING AROUSAL

• Physiological experiences during arousal

• Prior knowledge of experiences during arousal -

S. Schacter and J. Singer

• Possible effects of prior warning -

positive and negative

Relation between Key concepts

• Emotions as a necessary component of Cognition Damasio 1994 (localized areas of the brain)

• Problem solving and Emotions1. Gonsalez et al, 2004 - PERCEPTION AND NEGOTIATION

- anger negatively affected problem solving and negotiation skills

- main objective was forgotten during anger

2. Isen et al, 1987 - CREATIVITY

- Positive emotional arousal had positive effects on problem solving.

Relation between Key concepts

• Problem solving and Emotional arousal 1. Zurilla and Nezu “Problem solving Therapy”

2. Yerkes and Dodson “Inverted U relationship”

3. Easterbrook (1959)- as EA increases, attention is restricted.

4. Mandler (1982)- EA effects generation of alternatives.

5. Janis (1982)- EA results in cognitive deficiencies.

Performance

Emotional arousal

Yerkes-Dodson curve

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Application

Marital concerns, divorces, separation- rampant social problem

Plausible reasons- lack of objectivity- touchy in problem solving.

Guideline in psychotherapeutic work- Awareness of emotional arousal.- Controlling the effects of emotional arousal.- Focusing on problem and not person.- Cognitive Management of emotions.

Therapeutic value-1

Prior information of what might be experienced during arousalhigher EQ

1. Better self awareness

2. Better preparedness for arousal

3. Mindfulness

4. Less anxiety over arousal

5. Stay “in control”

Therapeutic value 2

Common view of problem and goal• Attentional capacities for goal of A = Aa ; of B = Ba • perception A has of B = pB • perception B has of A = pA • Interaction between A and B = i • Then Aa=p1/(p1 + i(pB)); and Ba=p2/(p2 + i(pA))

A

B

p1

p2

i G

pB

pA

Therapeutic value 3

Empathy • empathetic interaction= ei• With ei A and B come to a common perception of goal =

PG.

an increase in available collective attention.

“SYNERGY”

G

A

B

ABei

PG

Empathy v/s no empathy

A

B

p1

p2

i G

pB

pA

G

A

B

ABei

PG

Variables:

• Independent variables:

I Emotional arousal

A Subjective

* Positive

* Negative

B Neutral

II Prior knowledge of experience during arousal

• Dependent variables:

I Emotional Quotient

II Problem Solving Ability

Hypotheses:

1. Emotional arousal will lead to reduced EQ amongst subjects.

2. Exposure to subjective, negative stimuli will lead to

a. highest Emotional arousal

b. lowest Emotional Quotient.

3. Worse problem solving ability with Negative Emotional Arousal than with positive Emotional Arousal.

Hypotheses:

4. Amongst couples who are negatively emotionally aroused-

Those with prior information on what they might experience

a. will have a less affected EQ

b. will be better at problem solving

As compared to those with no prior information.

ECCO 2008ECCO-2008 BRUSSELS

Summary

1. Emotional arousal affects:– emotional quotient – Problem solving ability

2. Prior knowledge of experience during arousal may help in managing its effects

3. Common perception of problem and goal helps in problem solving

4. Empathy may play a big role in problem solving

5. These may be a useful guideline during psychotherapy with couples.

ECCO 2008ECCO-2008 BRUSSELS

Questions

• Operational definition of empathy• Measuring empathy• Concept of empathy quotient• Fine tune perception of goal equations• Problem solving task- neuro-cognitive test or simple

cognitive task

THANK YOU!THANK YOU!