The Psychology of Friendship

On the three levels of friendship and understanding social personality patterns according to friendship styles.

With social networking the very crux of modern virtual living, it is simply not possible to avoid a psychology of friendship. But friendship may not be as simple as it seems as it has got several layers and complexities and friendship can be of many types. Yet friendship like love depends on the single factor of attraction and in this case, it is more of a mental and emotional rather than physical attraction. So when romantic love begins with physical attraction, friendship is more mental, emotional or psychological.

Among maybe thousands of students we meet in school or a few hundred we meet at the workplace, we finally become close and attain a level of friendship with very few or limited people. So like love, friendship also goes through our internal filter and as we choose our lovers unconsciously, even our friends are chosen unconsciously as we intuitively understand who could be our true friends.

The Psychology of Friendship

Apart from the fact that there is this unconscious and intuitive filter which we exercise when we choose our friends or lovers, we also do get consciously attracted to people with whom we develop long lasting relationships and friendships. This attraction could be sexual but most likely we are attracted to the personality, to someone whose personal style, mannerisms and attitudes seem fascinating, intriguing or simply similar. There could be a narcissistic theory to this as we choose friends who may look, talk or think like we do and usually there is this mental rapport from the very beginning. Just as love could happen at first sight, friendship could also begin with 'like' at first sight.

Now this liking could have several gradations and in some cases you would simply like to remain as contact as in social networking. You simply follow a person on twitter or add someone as friend on face book because there is this basic or unconscious liking or at least a realization that there could be some gain from the virtual relationship. However this is the first superficial layer of friendship just as you would smile at or share a piece of news with a complete stranger in a train without ever keeping in touch or meeting again. This sort of friendship is the 'random friendship' variety.

Most of your social network friends who you do not know would be such random friends and strangers who you meet once and share a random conversation in a flight or a train or a bus would also be such random friends. This is the first layer or stage of friendship and in most cases we do not go beyond this stage. Most people we meet in our lives would be such random friends. This is a friendship of no expectations on both sides. This sort of friendship fulfils our basic social interaction and communication needs. Say for example, you give a speech at a conference and some people ask you questions and you answer them, to you these are your listeners but in this basic interaction there is a sense of rapport and almost an initial level of friendship. These, your listeners who choose to communicate with you are your random friends and they fulfil your interaction and communication needs.

The next stage of friendship is the distal friendship stage is which there is some unconscious or conscious expectation from the friendship and there may be a conscious sexual or emotional attraction. This sort of friendship is with people you regularly communicate with and you are also most likely interested in their activities. Distal friends are people you may or may not meet but are people with whom you want to maintain a long term and meaningful relationship and in most cases you have some knowledge of what goes on in their social or personal lives. This is the second level of friendship and second type of friendship and although there is expectation from this sort of relation, there may not be any clear idea as to what expectations there are. You simply know that you want to remain in touch with such friends and they are more than just contacts. These friends fulfil our power and recognition needs as with such friends we are assured that there are people in the world who care about us and are interested in our lives, dreams and achievements.

The third stage and type of friendship is of close proximal variety and this is the friendship between family members, close school friends, close workmates and friendship between spouses and lovers. In this sort of friendship there could be many expectations and there is sometimes an intuitive emotional connection. The initial reason for friendship could be physical attraction as in spouses or simply emotional connection as with family members or there could be a shared life and shared physical activity as in case of school or work friends. The close or proximal friends would know most details of your life and this sort of friendship entails expectations of sharing which may or may not be realistically possible. For example if sons and daughters leave home to work or study abroad, the parents who are still close friends would expect that their children would talk to them every week and this may not always be feasible. These close or proximal friends or stage of friendship fulfils our basic security, love and safety needs.

Thus from these stages or types of friendship you would know that the most essential types of friends are the close friends followed by distal friends and then random friends. Some individuals have more random friends than others and are thus of outgoing extroverted personality. These individuals are generally more curious about the world, have leadership are more open and communicative, they are also possibly very creative. However their primary needs are for social interaction and communication.

The second type of individual has more distal friends or social contacts with whom they are neither too close nor are they completely aloof. Such individuals have a wide range of social contacts with expectations but few random contacts and they are of mixed extroverted-introverted personality pattern. That means on a scale of 10, their extroversion would be 5 to 7. The primary need for such individuals is power or recognition. Of course this could have varied possibilities as with public or social figures and personalities such as writers, actors or politicians, there will naturally be more random contacts, yet as natural preference some public personalities will prefer social recognition as opposed to social communication. This preference is the basis of their social personality and would define the kind of friendship they choose to have.

The third type of individual is completely introverted and these are poets or artists or simply individuals who like to work on their own and lean heavily on their close network of friends and family members. Such individuals may have limited social contacts and very few random contacts and may not enjoy leadership positions. In some cases their introversion or aloofness would overshadow any leadership skills they do have. Such individuals could be very creative as well but this creativity may lead to complex ideas and highlight the subjective. In this case close friendship which fulfils love, safety and security needs are the primary needs of such individuals and such individuals are more emotion and security, or home and family oriented rather than communication or recognition oriented. From these three friendship patterns it is possible to delineate these three types of social personality based on social interactions.

Of course at the moment this is popular psychology and very little research in social psychology has studied levels of friendship, friendship in social networking or friendship styles that could relate to personality. Yet in the future psychology would not be able to avoid such research and with increased importance of social networking and virtual friendship, psychology will have to study how friendships are formed, why certain people become our friends and why different levels of friendship are attained with different individuals. Although there are theories on friendship and group formation in children, more studies into adult relationship formation and friendship would be necessary in psychology. Research studies will also have to be conducted to determine whether people with more random friends are ever curious creative types seeking communication and whether people with more distal friends and fewer random friends seek power and achievement and whether introverted individuals primarily lean on emotional security. With increased technological possibilities and an ever connected world, friendship remains a very fertile area of study in the social sciences.

The Psychology of Friendship
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Reflections in Psychology - Part II - by Saberi Roy (2010)
http://www.saberiroy.com

Saberi Roy - Books
http://saberiroy.tripod.com/books

cell phone watches Save On Surgex Sx1115 Rt Surge Eliminator And

The Psychology of Addiction

On why addiction is largely a state of the mind so addicts are more addicted to their addiction, the temporary feeling of pleasure, rather than the drugs...

Addiction is primarily psychological although addiction is defined according to the physiological changes in the body, and addiction continues to be considered as a social, cultural, genetic and experiential process as well. Addictive behaviour could be explained as any behaviour that gives temporary or short term pleasure and also provides relief from discomfort although there may be long term adverse effects.

Addiction is generally described as dependence on any drug and results from substance abuse. Any drug or alcohol can produce addiction as can other things such as the internet, gaming, gadgets, chocolates etc. However the physical and psychological effects of drugs and alcohol are detrimental and actually result in loss of productivity, withdrawal and physical dependence and lack of attention and such other conditions. The primary feature of addiction is dependence as an individual shows increased psychological and physiological dependence on the substance he is addicted to and without the addictive substance the person is unable to return to normal life.

The Psychology of Addiction

Dependence on anything may not be too bad and some amount of social dependence is expected of us as social beings. However when there is excessive dependence with inability to live without the substance in question, then withdrawal symptoms result and there are physiological changes in the body including pain and in some cases medical attention is required. Addiction is an extreme dependence and can cause people to lose sense of reality as people become cripple without the substance they are addicted to. Addiction leads to crime and anti-social behaviour as addicts can resort to violent behaviour, to stealing, to murder simply to attain what they want. Addiction to a substance could be separated from healthy use of the substance such as some amount of alcohol is considered acceptable and healthy in a social setting but being completely dependent on alcohol to that which amounts to addiction can have adverse social and personal implications for the individual. Some of the common addictive drugs and substances are opium, alcohol, nicotine and barbiturates. Giving up any addiction, requires strength and this is largely the strength of the mind that aids in stopping any addictive behaviour. Thus if addiction is a disease, the cure of addiction or even its prevention is largely a psychological process suggesting that the 'mind' is responsible for the addiction, the beginning of it and also the end of it.

Using addictive substances stimulate and release the pleasure inducing neurotransmitters in the brain and the dependence on this feeling of pleasure leads to more such pleasure seeking behaviour and this can spiral out of control and doesn't remain within the control of the individual who then is completely controlled by his addiction rather than the other way round. Withdrawal or abstinence symptoms of an addictive substance could include anxiety, depression, craving, irritability, restlessness or even thoughts of suicide with fatal consequences. Craving, irritability, depression, anxiety are all psychological withdrawal symptoms of addiction although closely related to the physical withdrawal symptoms. So addiction is largely in the mind and if a person wants, he or she can overcome this extreme dependence on an activity or a substance through self control and with better insight into his condition.

Why do people develop addiction?

People who develop addiction are more prone to mental illnesses as addiction has been related to mood or affective disorders, to neurotic illnesses and obsessive disorders, to anxiety disorders and many other psychological problems. Addiction is largely akin to compulsion or the need to repeat any particular behaviour in an abnormal dependent manner and addiction like compulsion is an abnormal dependence. Addicts are obsessed with the substance or objects or activity that they are addicted to and show an abnormal dependence on the substance or activity. Individuals with mood disorders or people prone to frequent depression are prone to addiction as any addictive substance or drug or even activity such as sex that gives short term pleasure can cause the addict to return to this activity or substance again and again so that the depression is forgotten for a while. This need for short term pleasure leads to repeated pleasure seeking behaviour and thus creates addiction.

All human beings are necessarily pleasure seekers, we all like to experience that is good or beautiful or provides a moment of happiness but addicts are in turn addicted to this pleasure as well. In fact addicts are addicted to the pleasure and not to the drugs, which are simply catalysts to provide them this pleasure. The drugs and the objects as also the activities that they repeatedly engage in provide them a solace that they feel they would not find in other options. There are of course chemical changes in the body so there are substantive proofs that addicts do get short term pleasure. Thus a drug addict repeated uses drug because it provides a particular form of pleasure that he will not get by say watching films and a sex addict repeatedly seeks sex because the pleasure from sex according to her may not be found in other activities such as travelling or reading. However this is only a belief that the addict has and is not necessarily true. In fact there is a sort of fixation of want, and an obsession with the object of want so an addict repeatedly thinks about this want and convinces himself that without the addictive substance he will not be able to survive. When love becomes an addiction, it can lead to suicide or fatal consequences when the object of desire is not attained.

Addicts are thus obsessed and largely depressed individuals who sometimes use the obsession against the depression or to overcome the depression. They are socially withdrawn although they may apparently have a huge circle of friends with whom they may not be able to relate at all levels. Addicts are also susceptible to suggestion and they are vulnerable to opinions of other people. Strange that it may sound, it is easy to mould or change addicts and also easy to hypnotize them as they are very impressionable and easily affected by what people and society have to say about them. This weakness of addicts is also their strength as both negative and positive influences can act equally well on addicts and the right guidance would be necessary to show them what is good for them and what is bad.

How is addiction controlled and stopped?

Stopping or overcoming any addiction could be a challenge but as addicts are changeable and affected easily, it may be relatively easy to bring them back to normal life provided they have the right type of guidance and counselling.

One of the strategies that could be used to cure addictive behaviour would be 'diversion', providing alternative substances/activities or shifting their attention or interest into something other than the addictive substance or object. As a TV addict could be encouraged to develop more constructive habits of reading for instance.

'Substitution' would be another method and a person addicted to alcohol could be encouraged to take a drink that tastes like wine but does not contain alcohol.

'Eradication' or complete unavailability of the addictive substance or object can gradually lead to forgetting the pleasure giving substance and interests in other activities. The complete unavailability of a drug, even a sleeping pill can lead to lessening of addiction for that drug and help the addict to develop other interests, although this should not be done abruptly as physiological and psychological symptoms of withdrawal may result. So if someone is addicted to a specific medicine or pill, the doses could be slowly reduced before completely stopping intake of the drug.

Finally 'suggestion' or counselling to change behaviour highlighting the bad effects of a drug or an obsessive activity could be effective at a later stage after withdrawal from the drug or activity has been attempted as when in need of any substance, addicts lose all sense of reality and may not even want to listen to advice. So, only when their dependence reduces to an extent with the help of the other methods of substitution, eradication or diversion, counselling could help them to show more reasonable and socially responsible behaviour and prevent further conditions of relapse.

The Psychology of Addiction
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Reflections in Psychology - Part I - by Saberi Roy (2009)
http://www.lulu.com/content/5865445

Saberi Roy - Books
http://saberiroy.tripod.com/books

watch mobile phone Best Offer Genuine Brake Band Save On Surgex Sx1115 Rt Surge Eliminator And Best Offer Cane Creek 110 Zerostack Headset

Girls' Psychology in Love - How to Manipulate a Girl's Feelings and Make Her Fall in Love With You!

Love psychology really is not a difficult thing to comprehend. However, many guys actually find it hard to understand women. However, if you know certain psychology tactics and techniques, then it would be super easy for you to completely decipher a woman's actions and thoughts. You see, women are really predictable when it comes to love and relationships - simply because they are governed more by their emotions than their minds. therefore, if you understand women psychology in love and dating, then you would be able to make them fall for you - simply because they would think that you understand them.

Girl's Psychology In Love And Dating - What You Need To Know

"The Emotional Factor". As mentioned above, women are ruled by their hearts and not their heads. Therefore, you would be able to manipulate a woman's emotions and make her fall in love with you completely... but only if you know how. There are a set of techniques and tactics which would give "seduction superpowers" to men and enable them to seduce any woman they lay their eyes on. Read on to discover one such tactic...

Girls' Psychology in Love - How to Manipulate a Girl's Feelings and Make Her Fall in Love With You!

"Reverse Psychology". The thing is that women like the things that they cannot get. Why would they go crazy over a limited edition Prada? Simple - it's because it's HARD to get. Therefore, if you want to appeal to women, then you must also be difficult to get yourself. One easy way to do this is to REJECT and disqualify women regularly. Make them all feel that they CANNOT get you - and your VALUE will skyrocket.

Girls' Psychology in Love - How to Manipulate a Girl's Feelings and Make Her Fall in Love With You!
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

"Use Fractionation." The "Reverse Psychology" tactic is actually a simplified version of a hypnosis trick known as Fractionation - which is said to give guys the superpowers to seduce women faster than you ever thought possible - http://www.fractionationformula.com

This tactic is the "best-kept secret" of the seduction underground, and once said is known only to 87 guys around the world. To get it for free, click here.

cell phone watches Best Buy Roc N Soc Nitro Throne Black Best Offer Lufkin Cn1295Sme590 13 Milimeter 1 2

Role of Psychology in Daily Life

Psychology is a very broad subject which purely deals with human behavior, thoughts, reasoning and perceptions. It is very interesting for people who are always eager to work more for improving their existence. Besides finding a respected job, you can use psychology in several matters that constitute your everyday life, most important of which is exploring your inner-self and enhancing your interpersonal skills to deal with your life in a much better and efficient manner. It is the subject that is the most important part of our daily lives, disregarding the fact that whether we are aware of it or not.

Moreover, this branch of science has been classified into several sub-branches which make it easier for people to choose their respective category and proceed with it. If you are interested in pursuing a career in psychology, you must decide which branch of psychology would be more feasible for your intellect. Decide, choose and start moving your way in that particular direction for resulting in a very bright career.

The most acknowledged sub-branches of psychology include human development, health, industry, sports, media, law, humanities, social and natural sciences. All of these categories have promising careers for you if you have a thirst for knowledge and only if you want to study psychology for satisfying your passion instead of killing time or fulfilling educational formalities. The average annual income of a successful psychologist ranges from ,000 to , 00,000, which sure is not an ordinary income. But it takes a lot of time to reach that level of experience and knowledge before you start earning thousands of bucks every year. Moreover, it also requires a professional degree for legally allowing you to practice.

Role of Psychology in Daily Life

Among these various categories, clinical practice and counseling holds greater importance as compared to the rest. One needs to pursue a doctorate degree for starting his practice as well as for achieving his license. However, you will have to provide valid researches and thesis before you acquire your doctorate degree in psychology. Besides, you can also pursue an associate degree in psychology, which will give you the basics of this science and you will also be able to get jobs such as advertising researcher, personal analyst, manager and several others.

For achieving these degrees, there are two options: Standard/regular studies, and online education. If you have enough of free time to join a university and continue your education, it is best for you. On the other hand, if you are a working professional or too occupied managing your tough time schedule, you can apply for an online degree in psychology. It is far less expensive as compared to regular degree and it is always feasible for your schedule. There are several accredited online universities that are offering accredited online degrees in psychology. So, if time and money had been your problem, forget them; and apply for an online degree in psychology from a huge list of accredited online universities.

Role of Psychology in Daily Life
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

For more information on online degrees in psychology and accredited online universities that offer online degrees in psychology, visit http://www.psychologydegree.ws/index.html

mobile phone watches Best Buy Roc N Soc Nitro Throne Black Save On Surgex Sx1115 Rt Surge Eliminator And

The Psychology of Being Organized

Individuals who are organized in their personal lives most generally constitute efficient and organized employees in their work environments, succeed in their personal endeavors and are, more often than not, financially secure.

Once an organizational state of mind is established, your status of efficiency in all areas of your life will ultimately benefit.

There is a profound psychological thread that binds all areas of your existence into one distinctive unit. A messy house trashed with useless clutter is an abstract representation of many lives - also muddled with unnecessary debris that needs to be regrouped, set aside, hidden out of sight or, better yet, disposed of completely. Wasted thoughts, wasted energy and wasted time all add up to wasted money.

The Psychology of Being Organized

In contrast, a well kept home and yard tend to indicate a well-ordered existence in every area of your life, whether it is financial, emotional or physical.

Human nature prescribes that the way you handle your household affairs is generally the same method of productivity you bring to the work place and to society in general. Those who have little respect for their own possessions and authority at home, usually have even less regard for the possessions or authority of others.

Finding yourself "off course" creates an emotional imbalance, resulting in a feeling of being overwhelmed. This "overwhelming feeling" triggers a significant panic reaction that generally results in prompting you to attempt to correct everything at once. So you rush back and forth from one chore to another, not completing anything, thereby temporarily losing focus on any one particular project. Consequently, nothing gets completed and a vicious circle begins.

Living such an indiscriminate lifestyle denies you the feeling of exhilaration and pride in completing any project. Look realistically at what is happening and what you are doing to yourself. Look at the time and energy you are spending yet receiving nothing in return. At best, you end up with a sloppy, half-completed job and feelings of personal guilt and failure over it because you know you could have done better. When you decide you've had enough of that kind of life, maybe it's time to make a change.

Organization is having a system for everything. By utilizing these systems, or routines, you manage to run a household, you manage to be where you are supposed to be when you are supposed to be there, you manage to do everything that needs to be done and you manage to find the time to do the things you enjoy. The only way you can manage to do it all these days is if you are organized. And that means having a system. It's really the easy way out, but so few people seem to be able to grasp it.

With a little planning and personal ingenuity you can turn your life into a methodical system of well-orchestrated routines, always ready to meet the next challenge life has to offer. It sounds so simple, doesn't it? That's because it is. Being organized is truly the easy way out.

Organization must begin with an inward determination to break away from the standard state of confusion and disorder, to a simpler way of life. Since each individual, each situation and each circumstance is unique, so must your method of tackling each challenge take on its own distinctive flair. Your own creative genius will ultimately discover effectual shortcuts in handling these situations, each requiring a slightly different organizational procedure.

Self-discipline is the only required equipment you will need to make any necessary change in your life. As easy as that may sound, there is one minor challenge: Self-discipline is against man's nature.

Self-discipline is taming the inward "savage beast" of discontentment. Telling yourself you are happy despite any difficult circumstances you may encounter in life, appreciating what you have rather than constantly demanding more, living within your means and sticking to your personal standards are conditions that lead to sincere personal happiness. Each of these attributes requires self-discipline.

The more you develop self-discipline, the easier it becomes in all facets of every day life. Sheer determination and a continuous focus on the end result will become the ultimate factors in your acquisition of a life of near-perfection.

Perfection is an inaccessible goal, but making the most of what you have in the easiest, most efficient manner, comes pretty close to it. There is always room for improvement and there is always a simpler, better, and more efficient way of getting things done if you look hard enough to find it.

The closest thing to perfection any individual can hope for in this life is to be happy with yourself the way you are and to simply appreciate what you have.

The Psychology of Being Organized
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Terri Emmett has three online courses: BIBLE PROPHECY: 100 STEPS TO ETERNITY, [http://www.prophecyguide.net]; THE ORGANIZER'S CLUB, [http://www.organizersclub.com]; and THE ORGANIZED HOUSEKEEPER’S SIX-WEEK CHARM COURSE, [http://www.charmcourse.com]; in addition to many other informational sites focusing on Home and Family.

watches mobile phone Best Buy Hobo Icu2T Timber Duck Calls Cheap Best Offer Genuine Brake Band Best Buy Chippendale Fish Fork With Hollow Handle

The Psychology of Emotions

On the differentiation between feeling and bodily reaction in emotions and the need to classify emotions

Emotions are probably the most fascinating of all mental processes and involve two phases of feeling and reaction. Are these two phases necessarily interwoven? Of course, they are. There could be overt or covert reactions to emotions but there is 'always' a reaction and an associated feeling. A lot has been written in psychology about emotions and there are now many theories and according to the most influential James Lange theory, emotion is a perception of bodily states. This means there is first a reaction in the body and when there is perception of this reaction, emotions are experienced. The body reacts and creates a feedback and only then we perceive the emotions according to this theory. This theory would suggest that emotion is a bodily reaction followed by the perception of such reactions.

There are many studies on the physiological or neurological aspects of emotion and most of these studies have suggested that the limbic system comprising of the hypothalamus, the hippocampus and other structures are responsible for expression and perception of emotions. There are many categorizations of emotions and one of these highlight emotions caused by internal body states such as pain or hunger and emotions caused by external stimuli as in the case of anger or fear. Emotions could be positive and negative as we know as the positive emotions are love and happiness, empathy, affection, curiosity, ecstasy and the negative emotions are jealousy, hatred, grief, anxiety, frustration etc.

The Psychology of Emotions

The categorization of emotion could be

1. Internalized (based on internal stimuli) or Externalized (based on external stimuli)

2. Cognitive (based on cognitive activity such as judgment), Affective (based on explanations of feelings or emotional experiences) and Somatic (based on bodily experiences).

If emotions are based on a psychological aspect of feeling and a physical or physiological aspect of bodily reaction, it is usually a question of which comes first, the feeling or the reaction? I would suggest that emotions based on internal stimuli could first involve a feeling or a psychological condition and this would in turn cause a physical reaction. Depression for instance could cause sleeplessness and other physical reactions. Emotions based on external stimuli as in anger could first involve a bodily reaction as when there is a heated argument we feel a faster heart beat and other bodily reactions. These bodily changes then produce the psychological aspect of anger.

Thus in internalized emotions reactions are triggered by feelings and in externalized emotions, feelings are triggered by reactions. There could be further research in psychology to clearly demarcate internalized and externalized emotions. Feeling is thus a psychological component of emotion and the bodily reaction is a physical component of reaction. Emotions are thus more complex than feelings and have two distinct components. For example emotions such as romantic love would consist of a feeling component of overwhelming affection and a bodily need or reaction related to physical desire. Simple affections as consideration for a family member is more of a feeling and do not involve physical reactions. It is necessary in psychology to clearly distinguish between feelings and emotions and more research will be required to identify simple feelings from complex emotions. An emotion is always necessarily accompanied by significant bodily reactions.

The distinction between feelings and bodily reactions in comprising emotions could help us identify these two essential components for each emotion. For example anger is a complex emotion comprising of a feeling of irritability and a bodily reaction of rapid heartbeats, reddened face, etc. An emotion of anxiety has a fear component and a bodily reaction of sweat or trembling etc. Psychological studies have usually overlooked the feeling component in emotions and also emphasized on bodily reactions rather than identifying feeling as a separate and essential aspect of emotion. Recent studies in consciousness have tried to understand what feeling really is and it is essential to identify the emotions and also the associated feeling and reaction components.

I'll provide a short table here providing the feeling and bodily reaction components of emotions.

Anxiety - Fear (feeling component), rapid heartbeats (bodily reaction)

Love - Affection (feeling component), physical/sexual need (bodily reaction)

Anger - Irritability (feeling component), flushed face or deep breaths (bodily reaction)

Grief - Sorrow (feeling component), tears or other physical changes (bodily reaction)

Lust - Possessing (feeling component), physical/sexual need (bodily reaction)

Jealousy - Controlling (feeling component), physical needs/violence etc. (bodily reaction)

The list could be potentially quite long although it is necessary to distinguish the feeling and physical reaction components for the identified emotion. How does this distinction help psychology? I would suggest that such a distinction of feeling and bodily reaction enable psychologists to work towards identification of the main psychological problem based on whether the feelings have preceded or followed bodily reactions. Internalized emotions will thus always begin with a feeling and it is the feeling that has to be tackled first. This is of course a very challenging perspective and researchers could continue to argue on whether pain involves feeling first or a bodily reaction first. Internalized emotions are also long lasting and this is because the root or the foundation of such emotions is the feeling which can continue for a long time. Grief or love (internalized emotions) would last longer than anger or lust (externalized emotions). Bodily reactions are of course short lived as our body has limited resources with which to react.

Usually theories of emotions have been divided into the cognitive theories, affective theories and somatic theories and neurological theories of emotions are usually somatic and completely based on bodily reactions. Contemporary psychotherapy emphasizes on cognitive theories of emotion and highlights the central role of evaluation and judgments. Affective theories with an emphasis on feeling have not been developed extensively as the emphasis on bodily reactions and cognitive components has always been of greater importance in psychology. It is with the advent of consciousness studies, that the concept of feeling came back in the picture.

The broader picture on the psychology of emotions would include the real purpose of emotions. Emotions could have several functions.

1. Emotions release our excess internal energy - Just as creativity helps in releasing our excess energy in a positive way, love or anger helps releasing physical energy and could thus be good for health

2. Emotions help us to fulfil our needs through directed physical reactions - the emotion of curiosity for example fulfils our need for knowledge

3. Emotions add the codes and conscious and subconscious elements to our social interaction, communication and general life process. Emotions enrich our lives whether they are consciously expressed or unconsciously perceived.

The final part of the discussion is the expression of emotion which like communication could be covert and unconscious or overt and conscious or deliberate. Emotional expressions vary according to individuals and some are more expressive and dramatic than others. Usually highly creative individuals are also more emotionally expressive as creativity is a form of emotional expression and highly creative people simply express themselves through their creative work. Individuals given to more dramatic or extravagant emotions are well suited for the arts, drama and other forms of creative self expression. Such individuals should be encouraged to channel their energies towards creative output rather than using their dramatic emotional expressiveness in everyday situations which could be stressful for the less emotionally expressive people they interact with. So if you are given to extravagant emotional expression of anger or jealousy, this could be channelled towards competitiveness and active involvement in sports. Extreme need to express love or desire could be channelled towards the fine arts such as poetry or painting. Emotional expressions are not emotions per se but are like keys to your closet and without the expression (either covert or overt) there could be no identification of the emotions.

Finally emotions are complex and understanding emotions, emotional components and emotional expressions would require further study and it would be necessary to identify all possible emotions and associated feeling and bodily reactions as also accompanying types of emotional expressions. Maybe it would be appropriate to treat psychologically disturbed patients with a form of affective psychotherapy.

The Psychology of Emotions
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

http://www.reflectionsinpsychology.blogspot.com
First published: on http://Futurehealth.org Saberi Roy - Books
http://saberiroy.tripod.com/books

watches mobile phone Best Offer Cane Creek 110 Zerostack Headset Save 13 On Trademark Miller Girl In The

Astro - Psychology - For Self Understanding

Astrology approaches its understanding of the psychology of human nature through observation and interpretation of the cosmic influences and energies of the zodiac, solar system and planets upon the whole human psyche. The science is based upon the ancient system with its firm traditional basis for analysis that includes character, health factors, human relationships and circumstances as well as national and wider issues that affect our globe.

Astro-Psychology, in its study of individual human nature, begins simply with the serious consideration of the zodiacal birth sign. We learn to appraise the identified positive characteristics of 'our sign' and find it easy enough to accept that these virtues are inherent in us. Not so easy, but equally necessary, is our attention to the negative traits. Although commonly shared as inherent weaknesses in us all, they are particularly evident in us and in others of the same birth sign as our own.

In evaluating these good or bad tendencies or traits, we must do so on the understanding that we personally may not have learned or wish to express these particular qualities of our birth sign. In this case, they remain as certain energies or resources to which we have easy access when and if we choose to utilize them.

Astro - Psychology - For Self Understanding

It is our free will that determines our life course and pathway and allows us to travel the easier routes and highways that astrology is able to indicate, or directs us to choose a pathway off the beaten track. The decision is always ours, no matter what subtle influence prevails in the weather of the starry heavens. However, as the farmer is wise to make hay when the sun shines, there are life activities and efforts that are likely to be more successful when the planetary climate is conducive to productive outcomes. So we begin to be aware, beyond earthly weather patterns, to observe the 'climate of the skies'.

The benefits of learning all the zodiacal signs and their faults and virtues including our own is to broaden our understanding and acknowledge the differences in human nature in the people around us. It is a wise exercise with beneficial outcomes.

We are encouraged to study not only the nature of the zodiacal signs but also the effect the planetary energies their influences and ultimately upon our circumstances, moods and work. We find that the movements of the planets result in ever changing patterns more volatile in their influence than the standard powers that emit from the zodiacal twelve segments of the cosmos. The aspects or relationship of one planet to another at any given time create difficult or harmonious blends of energy patterns to which we will react.

Just as the science of psychology has found certain ground rules and common factors in human nature and behavior that provide us with a sense of common ground with others, astrology as a science is complex in order to extend suggestions as to why we are as we are. This applies in all spheres of our being and in our common goal for self growth and excellence in achievement, physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual.

When we have our chart drawn up, there is attention given also to the natural elements that are referred to as earth, water, air and fire to determine the proportion of these qualities of practicality, emotionalism, intellectual or spiritual in our character. This is related to the planetary placement in zodiacal signs to which these elements are designated as applying.

There are many wonderful benefits from studying astrology. Many of these are practical such as planting crops by the moon phases, indicating fishing outcomes, planning social programmes, finding a compatible companion or partner, in healing, or choosing an auspicious date for important national events. There are many possible applications in which astrologers choose to specialize.

However, to use what we learn about human nature and apply it in daily life through the art of astro-psychology provides us with an intriguing lifetime interest. It helps us to feel inwardly secure with a sense of being part of a nature's infinite diversity in its creative design that manifests in our own uniqueness but at the same time allows us to feel part of the wider family of humanity. We take comfort and empathize with at least one twelfth of the billions of others on this planet with whom we will always feel a special link through the shared zodiacal influences focused at the time of our birth.

A simple balanced approach is advised so that we font make the mistake of thinking that the stars rule us in a way that obliterates free will. Nor do we wish extreme self assertion so as to challenge or blame all the energies of great nature rather than trying to harness them.

The key in applying astrological science lies in the attitude Shakespeare expressed in his 'Julius Caesar'.... "The fault dear Brutus lies not in our stars but in ourselves, that we are underlings."

We each have a unique nature with unique purpose and life talents in addition to qualities common to all. To observe and understand this uniqueness allows us to feel renewed sense of self confidence and sharpen our desire to live not only a happy creative lifestyle but one that offers our unique gift to the world.

Use astro-psychology to help you to recognize and utilize the special ingredients and strengths that comprise your total psyche.

Astro - Psychology - For Self Understanding
Check For The New Release in Health, Fitness & Dieting Category of Books NOW!
Check What Are The Top Cooking Books in Last 90 Days Best Cheap Deal!
Check For Cookbooks Best Sellers 2012 Discount OFFER!
Check for Top 100 Most Popular Books People Are Buying Daily Price Update!
Check For 100 New Release & BestSeller Books For Your Collection

Elizabeth S. Adams is known for her published "Forgotten Dreams - a collection of Poetry" with additional interests that extend to Astrology,Astronomy and mystical subjects that help us understand who we are and our place in the Universe. Astrology when applied to self understanding of our personality is a vital aid. Visit her site http://www.spirit-of-astrology.com

watches mobile phone Save 13 On Trademark Miller Girl In The Save On Surgex Sx1115 Rt Surge Eliminator And