ERIC Number: EJ902028
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Oct
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-0167
EISSN: N/A
Arousing Primary Vulnerable Emotions in the Context of Unresolved Anger: "Speaking about" versus "Speaking to"
Diamond, Gary M.; Rochman, Daniel; Amir, Ofer
Journal of Counseling Psychology, v57 n4 p402-410 Oct 2010
Arousing and processing primary vulnerable emotions is a core change mechanism across a wide range of psychotherapies and clinical populations. This study examined the utility of 2 emotion-focused interventions--relational reframes and empty-chair enactments--in terms of arousing primary sadness associated with loss and longing among individuals suffering from unresolved anger. Twenty-nine women reporting unresolved anger underwent a single, analogue emotion-focused therapy session comprised of empathy, relational reframe, and empty-chair interventions. The arousal of sadness was measured with voice signal, voice quality, and speech fluency measures. Results indicated that both relational reframe and empty-chair interventions led to increased arousal of sadness relative to baseline nonemotional speech. Empty-chair interventions also led to increases in fear/anxiety, presumably due to the potential for rejection or attack by the significant other (i.e., attachment figure). Treatment implications are discussed. (Contains 1 footnote and 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Counseling Techniques, Speech Communication, Interpersonal Relationship, Empathy, Emotional Response, Intervention, Females, Adults, Evaluation Methods, Allied Health Personnel, Psychological Patterns, Undergraduate Students
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A