Emotionalizing

Question 1

Emotionalizing Negative Example:

(Using our emotions for gathering and processing information: “I feel it, so it must be true.” Emotionalizing confuses internally generated and externally generated experience, so that instead of simply experiencing an emotion, we use it as evidence of a corresponding negative external situation. Emotions arise in response to differences or similarities between our maps and the territories they represent.)

“I got fired today.” [Note: This was stated by a client who had not been fired. His explanation for the discrepancy between what actually happened and his statement was, “Well, it felt like I had been fired.”]

Answer 1

Emotionalizing Positive Challenge:

“What words did your boss use to fire you?”

Question 2

Emotionalizing Negative Example:

(Using our emotions for gathering and processing information: “I feel it, so it must be true.” Emotionalizing confuses internally generated and externally generated experience so that instead of simply experiencing an emotion, we use it as evidence of a corresponding negative external situation. Emotions arise in response to differences or similarities between our maps and the territories they represent.)

“The world is a hopeless place.”

Answer 2

Emotionalizing Positive Challenge:

“So you are feeling hopeless?”

Question 3

Emotionalizing Negative Example:

(Using our emotions for gathering and processing information: “I feel it, so it must be true.” Emotionalizing confuses internally generated and externally generated experience, so that instead of simply experiencing an emotion, we use it as evidence of a corresponding negative external situation. Emotions arise in response to differences or similarities between our maps and the territories they represent.)

“He loves me, I can tell.”

Answer 3

Emotionalizing Positive Challenge:

“How can you tell?”

Question 4

Emotionalizing Negative Example:

(Using our emotions for gathering and processing information: “I feel it, so it must be true.” Emotionalizing confuses internally generated and externally generated experience, so that instead of simply experiencing an emotion, we use it as evidence of a corresponding negative external situation. Emotions arise in response to differences or similarities between our maps and the territories they represent.)

“What a sad life this is.”

Answer 4

Emotionalizing Positive Challenge:

“What about it makes you feel sad?”