Customizing
My Emotional Spin Cycle:
Data
Analysis
Psych
409a—Fall 2001—G15
Dr. Leon James,
Instructor
By: Jennifer Ah Sing
December 3, 2001
Table of Contents
Introduction
Data
Collection and Analysis
Discussions
Conclusion
References
Introduction
Emotions,
thoughts, and actions guide everyday human life in positive and negative
directions, within ourselves and towards those around us. Dr. Leon James terms these recurring
happenings, the emotional spin cycle, a system of twelve settings that
determines our thoughts, feelings and actions dependent upon our emotions and
the circumstance or situations. To
properly grasp the true nature of the emotional spin cycle it is imperative to
understand the key concepts involved.
1) Emotions
are strong feelings that instinctively stimulate the human person to act
2) Feelings
in its simplest form is a sensation of any
degree
3) The
Three-fold Self a theory created by Dr. Leon James and
Dr. Diane Nahl, are the three components that complete an individual; affective
behavior (feeling), cognitive behavior (thinking), and sensori-motor behavior
(acting)
4) The
Hierarchy of Motives is a system of measure that evaluates the
rank of human motives and categorizes them by the degree of need
* All definitions
provided are formulated by author’s own personal experience and research
Through
analysis and research of these concepts, will we as a community be equipped
with the tools necessary to modify our thoughts, feeling, actions and
emotions. By decreasing the frequency
of revolutions that the cycle occurs and decreasing the amount of time spent in
depressions and rage will ultimately increase the quality of life of the
population. The greater the awareness
the better prepared we are to handle the triggers of everyday life. In depth consideration of these is available
at Customizing
My Emotional Spin Cycle: Annotated Bibliography.
Society and The Emotional Spin Cycle
The
society that we live in today is plagued with outbreaks of rage, depression,
and aggressive and erratic behavior.
It’s as though people have forgotten about each other, being totally
self-absorbed and self-righteous. But
the real issue is that most don’t acknowledge that they do in fact have
problems; whether it be, problems with coping, controlling emotion, expressing
feelings, etc.
Our
community is on a downward spiral the emotions that are experienced everyday
have affected the lives of all. As
portrayed through the eyes of the media, rage and aggression is apparent all
around us. We watch it on television,
see it in movies, and hear it on the radio, read it in the newspapers. Individuals do not know how to handle and
cope with rage, aggression and depression and spend much of their day in these
states because they lack the tools to handle and modify these emotions. It is absolutely necessary for us, human
kind to analyze and understand our emotional spin cycles in order to elevate
the world as whole to a higher state of existence.
The Future Of The Emotional Spin Cycle
The
future is the unknown, a gray area where anything can happen. If things continue as they are going, the
outlook seems grim. There will be
increased instances of rage and aggression occurring globally, intervention
won’t be a concern, aggressive acts maybe deemed normal. On the other hand, if people change and see
that intervention is necessary, aggressive acts may decrease and eventually
dissipate, education and modification of the spin cycle will be a key concern,
and acting on rage and aggression will not be tolerated. The future is a mystery, but the thing we
can do is improve ourselves and stand as examples for others to follow. Which will act as a ripple effect that will
eventually touch everyone and increase the world’s quality of life.
Education
is key that will take the message to the world. Through education and learning knowledge is gained, the more
information acquired the more awareness is achieved. When awareness is received a feeling of empowerment arrives and
drives the human spirit to be proactive.
Thus will we be able to understand and desire to analyze and modify our
emotional spin cycles.
Data
Collection and Analysis
In
this portion of the Customizing My Emotional Spin Cycle: Data Analysis, I
attempt to test the theories put forth by Dr. Leon James, in the General
Instructions, and experiment to analyze and modify my own emotional spin
cycle. First by taking a 1-week
baseline sample of general rage and aggressive feelings and then taking 1-week
modification/control sample of general analyzed feelings as observed from week
one. Techniques, methods, as well as
theories from the General Instructions will be included to demonstrate the
tools necessary is conducting the analysis and modification process.
The Threestep Method and Sampling Technique
The threestep method helped me identify my feelings, and thus assisting in accepting them. It guided the 42 self-witnessing reports taken from week one (21) two week two (21). The threestep method also known as the AWM method (see General Instructions for more information):
1.
Step 1: I ACKNOWLEDGE
that I need to gain better control over my negative spin cycle.
2.
Step 2: I WITNESS my
threefold self in the negative spin cycle settings through objective
self-monitoring or self-observation methods of data collection.
3.
Step 3: I MODIFY my
spin cycle in one selected area, and then I start with another area.
The sampling technique used, branched off of the threestep method and posed more specific questions from the AWM method, such as; what was the sequence of events experienced, what sensations did you feel, what thoughts came with those feelings, etc. This technique forced me to search beyond the surface, to see the true source of my feelings and to understand why I feeling and acting the way I did. Both the threestep method and the sampling technique forced me to do a great deal of soul searching that I didn’t expect, but welcomed.
The
Threefold Self
The threefold self is a theory that divides an individual into three components, the affective domain of behavior, the cognitive domain of behavior and the sensori-motor domain of behavior. Affective behavior in simplest form is a feeling, what is felt when a situation occurs, for example when a loved one dies. Cognitive behavior is likened to thinking, what thoughts play a role in your decision making or thought process. Sensori-motor behavior is basically acting or action.
The affective, cognitive and sensori-motor behaviors are dependent upon each other to function, they help us to classify and understand the stimuli that make us feel, think and act the way we do. This concept is vital in analyzing and modifying our emotional spin cycles.
The Daily Spin Cycle
The daily spin cycle starts from the time you wake up in the morning until the time you fall asleep at night. It is the array of feelings, emotions, thoughts, actions, etc. that occur throughout the day. The cycle is like a roller coaster of ups and downs, at times the emotions and feelings are overwhelming and do not dissipate quickly, while others happen and are forgotten instantaneously. Some days are better than others, while other days are worst than most.
Dr. James’ Spin Cycle has twelve setting that are divided into negative and positive as well as towards ourselves and towards others. The settings are further divided into units using the threefold self-concept, affective, cognitive, and sensori-motor behaviors. Which breaks down the general emotions and feelings into a more specific direction, that is primary in modifying and analyzing our emotional spin cycles in a more controlled way.
The Design For Week One and Week Two
The design for week one was to take a baseline measure of the usual/general feelings, thoughts, and actions I went through for one week, taking samples in morning, afternoon, and night with a total of 21 for the week. Self-witnessing reports and global ratings (see below) acted as the measures for the sample, thus recording any kind of “intense feeling” that I encountered was vital to the design. It was imperative to the data collection to record the date and time of the occurrence, the sequence of happenings, the thoughts that entered my mind, as well as the physical sensations that accompanied the feeling, etc. The key to the experiment was to record the data immediately in order to maintain clear and concise observations.
The design for week two was a little more specific, the samples that were taken from week one were analyzed and from that several points of interest were chosen to be modified. The second portion of the design was separated into another three divisions, first it posed in depth analysis of the things that were felt, thought, and sensed in week one. The next step was to identify the “bridge” used to cross over from the negative to the positive. The final step in the design for week two was to identify the change or changes in thinking, feeling, and physical sensations. Although, I think that recording was vital to the data in week two, I don’t think that it was imperative to have been so rigid in the date and time of these instances. The important issue was the modification that resulted from the analysis of the spin cycle.
The Blue Bridge
or The Red Bridge
The red bridge that Dr. James describes in the General Instructions, starts at setting 2-negative red thinking, emotionally impaired thoughts and crosses over to setting 11-positive red thinking, emotionally intelligent thoughts. This bridge is labeled determination, because it transitions you from the impaired thinking the rage invokes to having determination to change or act against it, which helps you to thinking intelligently.
The blue bridge starts at setting 5-negative blue thinking, pessimistic and cynical thoughts and moves to setting 8-positive blue thinking, optimistic and realistic thoughts. Resistance is the label for the blue bridge, because at setting 5 you convince yourself that you’re wrong and should feel bad. Feelings of depression and anxiety accompany this state. But the cross over to setting 8 provides the resistance needed to overcome pessimism and have optimism.
Both bridges emphasize the use of self-talk or self-regulatory prompts to assist in crossing both bridges. For the red bridge you could use, “maybe, maybe not” or remind yourself that being aggressive won’t get you what you want. Things like “stop it” and reminding yourself that change is possible will aid in voyaging across the blue bridge. But the trick to making the “bridge” work is seriously taking charge of spin cycle consciously. Instead of allowing it to run you, you as an empowered individual maintain control of yourself.
The Global
Rating Scale
A global
rating is taken once at the end of each day of the two-week experiment, which
takes the average of six other smaller ratings: my strongest stress point
today, my strongest level of satisfaction with myself today, my best level of
effectiveness or productivity today, my best level of coping successfully with
my feelings today, your current level of hope for the future, the worst level
of negativity or selfishness of some other people around you. These ratings were based on a 1-10 rating
scale, 1 is the very weak, ineffectual or little hope and 10 is the extreme,
extremely hopeful or etc. Taking global
ratings everyday for the sampling period is necessary in measuring the
effectiveness of the modification and to check to see if any such change did in
fact occur. The global rating scale is
another integral part of the alteration of the emotional spin cycle.
Data Collection for Week One
The data collection
for week one was conducted on 11-12-01 to 11-18-01. This sample was used as the baseline for my emotional spin
cycle. A sample of my self-witnessing
reports is located here but to view the remainder of the data click, Data
Collection Week One. The summary of
my global ratings is presented to give an idea of my baseline emotional state
in comparison to the modification portion of the spin cycle in week two.
|
Date: 11-12-01
Time: 9:30am I woke up late
this morning, no school. I feeling really anxious, have an exam tomorrow
don’t feel prepared. Last night I
made the mistake of going out when I should have studied. I thought about the events of the day,
today is my cousin’s birthday and I need to cook and go shopping out of
family obligation. I know I won’t be able to get out of it. I know I’m not going to have enough time
to appropriately prepare. I feel
nervousness and panic. I feel my
respiration and heartbeat increase.
My mind starts running every which way, how can I do this, I need to
get that, but what about this. I feel
like I’m not going to make it through. What to do, when you have everything
to do? |
|
Date: 11-12-01
Time: 12:00pm Rage!!! I feel
like pulling all my hair out. My
cousin is dragging me around shopping, I can think about getting my nails
done and buying new clothes when I have my exam lingering in the back of my
head. She has no idea how hard school
is, all she is concerned with is her self, her on/off boyfriend and spending
everybody else’s money. She continues
to blabber on and on about nothing, well at least nothing I care about, all I
want her to so is quiet and I think that will stop me from going nuts. My hand is
just shaking I can’t handle it, I find myself snapping at her when she asks a
question, I feel myself making faces at her when she’s not looking. I feel bad today is her birthday. What’s wrong with me? |
|
Date: 11-12-01
Time: 7:30pm Feeling a
little better everyone is gone. I’m
excited that I actually can study now, but fear sets in when I realize that it
might not be enough for me to go through everything on the exam. And I still have to clean up and no one
wants to help me clean up. The only
thing that I can think about is going to the exam tomorrow and going
blank. A vision of a “D” or an “F” is
what’s plaguing my mind. I feel like
screaming at the top of my lungs and telling someone to help me. Don’t you guys understand all the stuff I
have to do today? Doesn’t going to
college and trying to get my degree account for anything here? I feel so tired I need to sleep, but I
feel nervous and shaky. |
Global Ratings for Week One
Date |
Strongest Stress Point |
Strongest
Satisfaction with Myself |
Best Level Effectiveness Today |
Best
Level Coping Successfully Feelings |
Current
Level of Hope for the Future |
Worst
Level Negativity of Others Around you |
|
11/12 |
8 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
8 |
5 |
|
11/13 |
9 |
7 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
6 |
|
11/14 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
|
11/15 |
9 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
5 |
8 |
|
11/16 |
7 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
|
11/17 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
|
11/18 |
7 |
9 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
5 |
|
Mean |
7.5 |
7.2 |
6.5 |
6.4 |
7.4 |
6 |
Data Collection for
Week Two
The
data collection for week two was conducted from 11-19-01 to 11-25-01. This sample was used to modify the baseline cycle
of emotions from week one to week two.
By looking at the data we measure any change in emotional state by
implementing the red and blue bridges to cross from behaving negatively to
behaving positively. A sample of the
self-witnessing reports is available below, however to take a look at the
complete data analysis, click Data
Collection Week Two. The summary of
global ratings is also available to contrast with the modified results and the
baseline.
|
Date: 11-19-01
Time: 9:00pm Tonight my
boyfriend and I celebrated his birthday, I took him out to dinner at
Compardes. Of course were talking and
my boyfriend started making comments about things I said and things I
did. I usually get really mad and
throw it all back to him, but used the blue bridge and resisted feelings I
had to retaliate and argue with him.
I told myself to “stop it” and “calm down.” It worked really well, I
was able to make it through the evening without any fighting or disagreeing,
at least on my part. I felt much
calmer, like I was able to handle the situation more effectively by using the
bridge. My respiration was normal and
I didn’t feel any increase in heart rat |
Global Rating for Week Two
Date |
Strongest Stress Point |
Strongest
Satisfaction with Myself |
Best Level Effectiveness Today |
Best
Level Coping Successfully Feelings |
Current
Level of Hope for the Future |
Worst
Level Negativity of Others Around you |
|
11/19 |
7 |
9 |
9 |
8 |
10 |
5 |
|
11/20 |
6 |
8 |
8 |
7 |
8 |
6 |
|
11/21 |
5 |
5 |
4 |
8 |
7 |
7 |
|
11/22 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
5 |
|
11/23 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
11/24 |
9 |
6 |
7 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
|
11/25 |
6 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
7 |
5 |
Mean |
6.5 |
7 |
7.1 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
6 |
Data Collection Difficulties
Data Collection was the most difficult aspect of the experiment to conquer. I often forgot to record the incidents immediately after they occurred by the time I remembered the sequence of events were a little hazy. It was hard to jog my memory back to the moment and recall exactly what happened. I feel that I may have forgotten bits and pieces of the occurrence and maybe filled in the spots where I couldn’t remember. It is accurate to say that some of the samples taken are tainted to some extent, although for the more part I think that they are fairly substantial.
I also found it
difficult to use the global rating scale, I didn’t feel I had enough
information or I didn’t have the expertise to accurately rate myself on a day
today bias. I think I may have
over-scored myself and maybe have under-scored myself on occasion. The scale didn’t come with any type of
example to rate myself with; I know I would have done better if I had some
statistics on how others rated themselves.
Although the rating are relative based on personal prerogative.
Evidence
of the Cycle
The spin cycle became visible in the self-witnessing reports that I recorded; the cycles were manifested through rage, anger, frustration, anxiety, and fear. The intensity of these emotions were significant, I found myself ready to give up on numerous occasions. I felt as though the weight of all the emotions, feelings, thoughts, and fears were too much for me to handle, I allowed myself to think that I was going to have a breakdown. I realized that I tell myself all the time that I can’t deal with all the pressures of school, work and family expectations. I try to paint a picture of having everything under control to everyone else, especially myself, but I know I don’t have it all under control.
The stimuli that lead up to the occurrence of my spin cycles were sensations of fear, rage, frustration, anxiety, and discontentment. Sometimes people hanging around the door at the end class set me off, fighting with my boyfriend definitely caused rage and frustration, being in traffic and having people cut me off made me crazy. It was an endless amount of little things that I let drive me over the edge. I would go through the cycle all day everyday hiding it from myself. Although deep down inside I knew I was protecting myself and I didn’t know how to handle my feelings and emotions. That’s what kept my rage and anxiety up, my inability to accept what I was feeling and to deal with it. I assumed I could handle it all because I had been doing it the whole time, but I found out that, yeah I was handling my anger but not the right way.
The Recovery
At the start of week two recovery didn’t seem like an option. I had problems with modifying every part of my day, thus I chose to concentrate on one aspect out of my day to work on. I tried using the bridge methods of crossing over from negative thinking to a positive outlook, but it was complicated. The one concept that jumped started my recovery were the self-regulatory sentences. When I started telling myself to stop it and calm down and maybe, maybe not, it helped to me stop and really ponder what I was feeling and why I felt that way. After I realized that I need to make a conscious effort to stop and think, it made all the difference recovery and modification were now possible.
When I acknowledged that I needed to stop and think was when I began to modify my reactions to my feelings. I searched beyond the surface and looked deeper; to find the real reason I was angry, anxious, and frustrated. Through being in touch with those feelings I was able to view what areas I needed to change and I knew how to change them. I used self-regulatory sentence as my primary intervention against my negative feelings and emotions that eventually sped with the recovery process when spin cycles occurred.
Discussions
The overall results of the experiment were relatively accurate to prediction; it was assumed that the emotional spin cycle would be higher in frequency in week one than in week two. By analyzing the data presented and evaluating the global ratings of both weeks, we see that the stress level decreased from 7.5 in week one to 6.5 in week two, the level of effectiveness increased from .65 in week one to 7.1 in week two, the level of successful coping increased from 6.4 in week one to 7.4 in week two and the current level of hope for the future increased from 7.4 in week one to 7.7 in week two. As shown in the data from week one to week two mean measures of the global ratings increased in 4 out of the 6 areas considered.
Psychologically the evidence isn’t as clear cut and apparent as the statistically evidence provided. In week one no intervention was necessary to modify any behaviors or emotions, a simple baseline measure was taken to view the usual daily spin cycle. It wasn’t until week two when modification and analysis were required did any kind of psychological happenings occur. When analysis was conducted on the data, it was evident that avoidance behavior was at play. I tried to shield others and myself from the appearance of any kind of weakness or incapability I had, thus avoiding to allow it to surface. Denial also was implement to assist the avoidant behavior. If you deny that you have any weakness than avoidance is achieved, because if you have no downfall than you don’t need to avoid it.
Conclusion
The research done on this report opened my eyes to my true emotions and feelings, some of which I didn’t know existed until now. I feel I’ve gained a greater awareness of how to handle and cope with different situations, people, and emotions. I realized that coping with our emotions is vital if not crucial to how we live our lives everyday; because everyone has feelings and they are what help them or discourage them through the span of the day. We as a community live off each other’s, feelings, hopes, accomplishments, fears, angers, etc. If one thing is unbalanced with one person it is going to ultimately affect everyone, thus its is so important to realize our feelings, accepted, and do something about it. The study of the emotional spin cycle helps to achieve that goal.
I think that if greater awareness is mainstream to the population the amount of rage, anxiety, anger, frustration will dramatically decrease and we will see an elevated level of consciousness of the world. My hope is that education will be spread, amongst the young and the old in order to capture everyone. It’s important for all of us to do our part to contribute to gain better understanding of ourselves to be able to assist others. I hope that from writing this paper, someone else will be touched to spread the awareness as well.
References
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy/leon.html
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2001/ahsing/report1.htm
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/leonj/leonpsy15/g15reports-instructions.html
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2001/ahsing/datacollection1.htm
http://www.soc.hawaii.edu/leonj/409af2001/ahsing/datacollection2.htm
