Send us a text

Now we will take an in-depth look at one of the most controversial and difficult emotions for most people to experience: anger. Anger directed either at ourselves or in relation to other people is often at the core of many different issues that people bring into therapy. In today’s episode, we will start our exploration by delving first into the question, What is anger? We will consider how it is a primary human emotion that is observed across all cultures and across the lifespan. We will discuss what anger represents emotionally as well as what happens to our neurophysiology when we experience anger.

Next, we will discuss how anger as a universal emotion is directly linked to the nature of needs fulfillment. We will discuss how the idea of fulfilling our competing needs drives the very organization of society. We will observe briefly how all cultures must come to terms with the interaction between anger and needs. We will also explore the distinction between righteous anger and selfish anger.

Bringing the focus back to our personal lives, we will next explore how anger and its expression takes on personal meaning in each of our lives. We discuss how we are each trained to cope with our needs, and thus how to express anger, based on our earliest childhood experiences and in the countless interactions with our caregivers and environment. Next, we will explore how these early childhood experiences lead to several different, distinctive presentations of anger in adulthood. Anger often comes into the therapy room in one of several characteristic ways, and we will unpack these presentations and discuss what they tell us about our personal orientation to the emotion of anger and to getting our needs fulfilled.

Finally, we will discuss how we can begin to develop ways of dealing with our anger that will allow it to fulfill its proper and healthy function and not to pose a threat to our well-being or our relationships.

The emotion of anger is the natural response to recognizing that our needs are not being met. We can learn to manage this emotional activation and create new and healthy ways for us to identify, express, and negotiate in order to have our needs met in life.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!

Please subscribe and share with your friends.

Recorded and edited at Studio 970West, Grand Junction, CO.

CLICK HERE to support Peace, Love, & Psychology Podcast.

Send us a text

In this episode, we explore two fundamental principles in Clinical Psychology that have far-ranging implications for the way we feel, think, and relate to other people. These ideas are simple to understand, but they play an important role in diagnosing and treating a wide variety of mental disorders.

First, we discuss the concept of Needs Fulfillment. All living organisms are engaged in a lifelong struggle to meet their needs, and human beings are no different. We examine the array of needs humans have using the famous model developed by Psychologist Abraham Maslow. We explore the levels of his famous Hierarchy of Needs and explain how the concept of levels is relevant to understanding the ways in which we go about getting our needs met. We discuss how the concept of needs fulfillment provides a framework for understanding the most basic questions people bring into therapy: Why do people do what they do? and, Why do I do what I do?

Second, we introduce and examine the concept of Neuroplasticity. This exciting frontier in medical science unifies long-standing theories of learning with the most recent advances in brain imaging, which demonstrates how the structures of the brain adapt and re-shape themselves in response to the demands we put on them. Our brains are always learning, and what we pay attention to and practice over time shapes our brain to facilitate more efficient thinking patterns. Advances in neuroplasticity help us answer fundamental questions about how human beings learn and how we can understand and change our habits.

Then, we explore how these two simple ideas can come together to help us understand many of our most pressing questions about ourselves and other people. We discuss how a firm grasp of these principles can free us from taking things so personally and can give us a framework for shaping behavior in a more positive way.

While human behavior is complex and may seem impenetrable and mysterious, a familiarity with the fundamental principles that shape it can empower us to make radical and positive changes in the way we understand ourselves and other people. Knowledge truly can empower us to improve our lives.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!

Please subscribe and share with your friends.

Recorded and edited at Studio 970West, Grand Junction, CO.

CLICK HERE to support Peace, Love, & Psychology Podcast.

Send us a text

In this episode, we address the topic of Emotional Hijacking, a process where our emotions are stirred up in a way that we may struggle to make rational, healthy choices or engage in effective planning for our long-term benefit.

We examine the meaning of the phrase, and we review and explain the neurophysiological basis behind the process. We explore how systems that are designed to protect us in the face of danger can become a liability when the dynamics of a situation stir up strong emotions. Because of the way our brain and body function when in a crisis, we may not be able to think clearly or solve problems effectively when we are upset, angry, confused, or emotional.

We consider situations in which emotional hijacking may come into play. In the domain of our intimate, primary relationships, there may be an unhealthy cycle in which one partner becomes upset and the other partner ends up getting their way. In contrast with a collaborative and open approach to communication, emotional hijacking can cause a corrosive build-up of mistrust and resentment.

The process of emotional hijacking can also come into play in the broader domain of our societal relationships. In a negative way, some actors in a society may stir up strong emotions in order to induce people to act in a particular way that may not be in the best interest of all members of that population. During contentious political campaign seasons, exposure to media that inflames our passions may not set us up to calmly and rationally assess which policy approaches would be best for ourselves, our families, and our society. Finally, we discuss self-defense strategies against emotional hijacking, both personal and societal.

We can learn to monitor our level of emotional activation in order to calm ourselves down. We can implement personal strategies to manage our level of emotions and make use of our broader faculties in order to make better decisions about our personal and societal future.

Support the show

Thank you for listening!

Please subscribe and share with your friends.

Recorded and edited at Studio 970West, Grand Junction, CO.

CLICK HERE to support Peace, Love, & Psychology Podcast.