Fight or Flight

We have emotional responses to the events in life. Once we become aroused, one of three states typically takes over.

Fear	Anger	Helplessness
		These "knee jerk" responses are built right into our nervous system. They change the way our bodies feel . . . and how we see the world. . . Fight, flight, shut down -- responses rather than rational, planned events. How aware are you? How much control do you really have over your emotions? Are you sure?

People do not have gauges . . . so we may not realize we are coping instead of thinking.

Dr. Paul MacLean's triune brain theory provides interesting insights into the complexities of human behavior. He postulates that the brain has acquired three drivers, all seated up front and all of different minds! In other words, it's as if an alligator, a gorilla, and a computer were driving the human system!

We now know that under stress or when anticipating danger, the cerebellum or lowest and most primitive levels of the brain take control. According to MacLean, the primitive needs dictated by the Reptilian Brain include a sense of safety, survival and territoriality.. Like reptiles, cold-blooded and controlled by instinct, this part of our brain focuses on survival. This reptilian part of our brain is poorly equipped for learning to cope with new situations. and controls the behaviors associated with instinct and survival.

Reptilian brain (r-complex) behaviors are identified as:

Survival - Fight or flight, lashing-out, screams Monitoring - Breathing, balance and instinct Territorial - Defensive about possessions, friendship and personal space Mating rituals - Attention seeking and showing off Hierarchies - Hanging out with the gang leader Rote behaviors - Behaviors that are repetitive

When a person is under stress, feeling fearful or angry, higher order thinking shuts down.

LEVELING

We can gain control over our emotions by recognizing and monitoring our affective responses. Leveling supports both feelings and cognitive processes. It is one of the best ways to acknowledge feelings to ourselves and then share them with others. We level when we let someone know we are hurt -- or afraid -- or that we are angry . . . were angry.

Anger, bottled up, or fear that is kept hidden, seems to lead to more recurrences of anger. Anger is an important feeling, yet we often avoid admitting to ourselves or others that we are angry. In fact, when we are fuming we may not tumble to the fact until later. That makes leveling about anger even more difficult. . . and more critical

Leveling, naming the feeling and telling ourselves or others how we really feel,means we are exploring true feelings for ourselves and sharing our bewilderment or discovery with others

Sometimes, leveling means admitting that we do not understand our feelings, or that our behavior does not make sense.

We want things to make sense, to add up, to seem sane and reasonable. Sometimes we are sensible, orderly and rational. Sometimes we are not.

When we are unwilling or unable to level about feelings, defenses take the place of honesty

A coward dies a thousand deaths --- A brave man dies but one - Shakespeare

Defense Mechanisms help us deal with feelings. This is a list of the most common.

Reaction Formation	Regression	Rationalization
Projection	Sublimation	Isolation of affect
Undoing	Intellectualization	Displacement
Repression	Suppression	Denial
Link: http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/science/freud/Defense_Mechanisms.html
Link: http://www.rider.edu/users/suler/defenses.html

Personal Insights and Growth - optional and FYI

Hostility and Cynicism

Interactions are at the core of life. Those who are unnerved by daily interplay can come to recognize and make personal choices about the effect of those interactions. Ask yourself these questions:

1. Do I have a lifestyle that focuses on anger, hostility, cynicism, aggression?
   
2. How can a person change that kind of focus or habit pattern?
   
3. Steps and resources to begin that change
   

Using the most recent event that created a sense of anger, review it in light of your world view. Does it change your perception of how you responded? Did you have any other options?

Develop a plan for one of the anger deflections.

List an acceptable outlet for improving relationships

Describe a time when you utilized humor to change your perception. You may wish to share this with the group.

• What were common experiences in using humor as a mood changer?
  
• How could it be used more frequently?
  
• Is there a difference between finding humor and using sarcasm?

Honesty

There has been a lot of discussion and difference of opinion in the past 25 years about what it means to be honest and to be true to yourself. Some people seem to be of the opinion that the end result gives people permission to "Tell it like it is," "Look out for themselves", Shoot when angered and ask questions later.ä Consider the outcome of following these two extremes:

"Do it if it feels right"	"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all"
Shoot people who get in the way	Get into an accident rather than honk
Expel students who are disrespectful	Get reprimanded because of chaos in the classroom

Write a journal entry or draw a cartoon which depicts the ambiguous ways that human nature is expressed.
Make a continuum drawing showing the up and down sides of our strengths and weaknesses

Self Acceptance

It sounds a little simplistic to discuss accepting ourselves. In reality, there are big snags that get in the way.

One snag comes from the things we have been told by others. If we were told repeatedly that we have pretty eyes or are lazy and messy, those messages may become internalized.

Another snag comes from the modeling of those around us. Perhaps a family member has derogatory names for a racial group or treated men or women in a derisive manner. We are often less aware of these messages, though they are just as embedded.

Finally, as we mature we grow into the ability to see and feel the needs and perspectives of others. As young children this capacity for second person perspective is very limited. As adults, we have the capacity to assess, reflect, and develop an individuated set of responses to achieve a balance that reflects who we are and what we believe.

M A R T H A

Merry Active Relaxed Tender Helpful Amusing

Write a journal entry or draw a cartoon which depicts the way you balance the negative and positive messages you get and pass on to yourself.
Make a life story and look for times that you have been given messages about your strengths and weaknesses - see if you can determine which you valued by keeping and believing them and which you discounted. How are those habits or messages affecting you today?

Collect a for completing this reading!

Go on to Assignment 3
or
Go back to Assignment 2

Course Created by J'Anne Ellsworth & Center for Technology Enhanced Learning

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