The topic explained
LESSON 2A READING AND VOCABULARY
- I can understand the purpose of specific sections in an article and talk about emotions.
Emotion words: strong feelings and their milder twins
1 Match emotions from the box with their close synonyms.
1 admiration
2 fear
3 calmness
4 disrespect
5 anger
6 expectation
7 hatred
8 regret
What is the writer trying to do?
2 Study Active Reading. Then tick all the sentences that show the writer’s purpose for the article.
Tick all that apply.
1 □ to point out how negative emotions can show themselves physically 2 □ to advise on ways to maintain a calm outer appearance 3 □ to name the resources which can improve our outlook 4 □ to connect what we feel with the face we show to the world 5 □ to explain how we mentally process negative emotions 6 □ to warn that not being genuine may have a negative impact on us 7 □ to underline the dangers of working in certain industries where customers’ emotions are valued 8 □ to urge the reader to improve their mental and physical health by displaying or hiding emotions as required
ACTIVE READING |
Why stress shows up in the body
- While we are all well aware that moving home, starting a new job or receiving bad news, for example, can considerably raise anxiety levels,
- it's not always as easy to make the connection between other physical health problems that we may experience as a result of stress.
- It would seem logical to ascribe a racing heart and raised blood pressure to nervousness and apprehension, but would we automatically link those nerves to an upset stomach or back pain?
Bold words are the book’s highlighted verbs; the vocabulary exercises after the article use them.
So emotional health matters
- The truth is that our emotions can trigger a host of physical reactions and that is why we need to concern ourselves with maintaining our emotional health.
Can we choose to feel less negative?
- "That's easier said than done", you might say, and you would be right.
- Emotions are not easy to control, particularly negative ones.
- So, is it actually possible to make ourselves feel less negative?
Tips and advice everywhere
- ‘How to become a happier you’ is a hot topic at the moment and we are inundated with advice and tips online.
- There is an abundance of websites with surveys, questionnaires, tips and shared personal experiences available to us.
- Even schools are running mindfulness classes for their students as part of the curriculum.
Smile: your face can change your mood
- A new take on the topic, based on the link between emotion and facial expression, is that rather than frown when we’re feeling low or upset, we should try smiling.
- Studies have shown that facial expressions not only reflect emotions, but influence them.
- In other words, we may smile because we are happy, but we can also feel happy because we smile!
Other faces, other feelings
- So, do other facial expressions affect our mood too?
- Apparently, they do.
- There are studies that show that if we are experiencing pain, yet endeavour not to show it on our faces, the degree of pain we experience can be less intense than if we wince and frown.
- Likewise, if we show that we are frightened when faced with danger, this can actually exacerbate the fear that we’re feeling.
Why the whole body is involved
- According to the experts, this is because the way we experience emotion does not just involve the brain; it is far more complex.
Hiding feelings: the catch
- However, not all scientists are in complete agreement over the benefit of suppressing emotions or faking facial expressions to influence our moods.
- Research suggests that although faking emotions can help in the short term, continually suppressing emotions can have a negative effect on our general health.
- If the face is not involved in expressing an emotion, that emotion may eventually find another outlet, such as depression, a pessimistic outlook, or even physical illness.
Emotional labour at work
- Linked with this latter belief is the concept of emotional labour, which was first identified in 1983.
Then and now: two meanings
- A recent interpretation of the term, started by an American journalist in 2017, references the need for people to concern themselves with routine chores that often result in dissatisfaction.
- However, the term was originally invented to describe the requirement for certain employees, for instance those in the service industries such as flight attendants and shop assistants, to present a happy face to clients, however bad they may be feeling.
The cost of a forced smile
- In other words, it is part of their job to pretend to be happy and hide any negative emotions.
- This faking of emotion can contribute to emotional exhaustion, leaving the person drained with little emotional energy left.
The balance: show it, or hide it?
- Whilst wallowing in negativity is not going to help anyone, there are definitely times when we should allow ourselves to show our true feelings.
- Balancing when or when not to express emotions is something we need to be aware of for the sake of our health.
Swap the underlined words for the article’s verbs
3 Rewrite the underlined words and phrases in the sentences using the highlighted words from the text.
1 When my brother was younger, he always indulged in self-pity after my parents got cross with him.
2 My dad put his old bike up for sale online and he’s been flooded with offers.
3 I got a message about a brilliant job offer to work in Amman while I was coming home from college.
It was very hard to hide my excitement all the way home on the bus.
4 The company tries hard to consult all its employees on factors that may affect their working conditions.
5 If you get angry and lose your temper, it will only make the problem worse.
6 Some people believe animals experience the same emotions as humans and, just like humans, they can express their emotions through actions.
Fill the gaps with the highlighted verbs
4 Complete the questions with the correct forms of the highlighted verbs from the text. In pairs, discuss the questions.
1 What do people do when they ___ in self-pity? Do you ever do this yourself?
2 Think of a problem you’ve had that has got worse recently. What ___ it? Say why.
3 What kind of advice do you find yourself ___ with these days? Say why.
4 When do you think people should endeavour to ___ their emotions? Say why.
5 What would you ___ your present mood to? Say why.
