Customizing My
Emotional Spin Cycle:
Data Collection and Analysis
Date: April 22, 2002
By Wings
Dr. Leon James, Instructor
Introduction
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ This is the second of two reports that focus on the Daily
Emotional Spin Cycle created by Dr. Leon James.Κ The spin cycle is a
model of the way that a person relates to the self and to others on a daily
basis. This model divides the self into three distinct parts and refers to
the self as the "three-fold" self. Report one has a chart of the Spin Cycle
that illustrates the three-fold self and the four options which the self has to choose from while relating to itself and to the world. Report One introduces the reader to four concepts which are relevant to the "Emotional Spin Cycle".Κ These concepts are:
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ "cognitive scripts"
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ "behavioral routines"
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ "cognitive appraisal"
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ "emotional intelligence"
Besides defining these terms, report one also contains summaries of websites which relate to each term complete with a hyperlink to each site.ΚΚΚ I recommend that you read Report 1, you can get there by clicking on the following link;
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ Report 1ΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚ
The bibliography highlights several trends in today's society.
People have a natural tendency to focus on their immediate desires and
Κreact in a negative way to anything or anyone who appears to
Get in the way of their goals.Κ When a person feels like they have not
been able to live up to a perceived standard, that person begins to
treat themselves and others in a negative manner. This leads to discontentΚ
and social unrest.
ΚThe idea of having a dream and living up to this dream is very
Κ
Much a part of the socialization process which begins when children are
very young. We can all remember being asked when we were children, "What do
you want to be when you grow up?" In elementary school, kids draw pictures
Κof their chosen adult occupation, at a time when they are barely able to
read. This focus on accomplishment is part of a message sent to youth that
says that they should do well in school so that they can go to college. The
idea is to make these children into adults that make positive contributions
to society.
Too little attention is given to the many ways in which a
person can
contribute to society that are not based on money- such as, being a
caring person and taking part in the political process.Κ Interpersonal
relations are affected when a culture places too much emphasis on
money as a indication of success.Κ Wealth is a door opener in the political
world and in the world of high society. Most people want to feel included
and when one feels like an outsider, one looks at the self and the world
in a negative way.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The "Emotional Spin Cycle", created by Dr. Leon James,
illustrates how a person's thoughts and feelings affect that person's life
as well as the lives of those who interact with that person on a daily
basis. We are aware of serious negative confrontations because the news
covers them on a daily basis. Besides the media, we are also exposed to
negative behavior in the home. Whenever children see their parents
react in negative ways to a stressful situations, the children learn to
behave in the same way, they model that behavior.Κ The world of
entertainment is bursting with examples of negative actions, which are
presented as the normal way to behave.Κ For example, comedians joke about
their reaction to a driver who is driving slowly in front of them. The
confrontation is negative in nature, and the comedian insults the driver
for having the nerve to impose on his ability to drive fast.
Κ This lack of politeness has made it seemΚ unusual to be
polite and patient, instead, rudeness and impatience seem to be the norm.
Κ
With the media coverage of the rich and powerful, there
is an increase in comparing oneself to others and feeling that financial
success is the only road to happiness. This has led many to develop a
negative self image because they feel inadequate. As far as the future is
concerned, the prospects do not look good, as children become more
materialistic as each year passes. If adults are able to recognize this
trend and work to teach children to have a [positive self image and to help
others by volunteering, children can be shown that money is not the only
route to happiness.Κ
At this point in time, the most important thing to do is to try
to spread the idea that introspection is an important part of self
understanding. Many times people do not know how to be
honest with themselves, but the concept of the Emotional Spin Cycle is
a tool which people could use to begin to live happier lives.
"THE
THREE-FOLD SELF"
ΚΚΚΚΚ ΚΚ The "threefold-self" represents the part of the self which is
not material in nature. The threefold-self is the cognitive, affective and
motor parts of a person and are commonly referred to as the thinking,
feeling and actions of a person. The feeling/affective part of the self
is frequently misunderstood and ignored and because we are taught to
ignore our feelings, this is the most elusive part of the self.Κ Often, we
confuse the feeling with the thinking part of the self. We try to pay
attention to our thoughts and actions, denying the feelings which have
an important role in our behavior. Whenever we wish to change from the
negative to the positive option, the easiest place to work from is
the part of the three-fold self which is thinking.Κ If we are successful
in changing our patterns of thinking, than our feelings and actions will
reflect this change.Κ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚ Previously, I did not consider the self as a three-tiered entity,
but I did try to pay attention to my thoughts. I had read a book by
Dr. Joseph Murphy called The Power of Your Subconsciuos Mind, which
stresses the importance of our underlying thought patterns in the
formation of our realities. Dr. Murphy postulates that if a person is
able to change his or her core beliefs, then that person will see a
different reality in his or her life.Κ I found that stategy to be
limited when I needed an answer about things that I did which were easy
to excuse as just being "the way that I am".Κ For example, going late
to work.Κ I used to be unable to find an answer to this problem when
I searched my thoughts. I gave up and tried to blame my tardiness
Κon someone else, like my parents or my boss. I realized that I was
responsible for my lateness, but it was easier
than trying to figure out the real cause of my lateness.Κ I may have a
found the reason for my tardiness, I will discuss that later in my report.
"THE
THREE-FOLD SELF AND THE WORLD"
ΚΚΚΚΚ The three-fold self fits what I know about myself and
others because I have known people who try to deny that their actions are
influenced by their feelings.Κ
ΚΚΚΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚ The three-fold self fits psychology because it attempts
to make a connection between the feeling part of a person and the actions
of the person. Psychology has always looked for the underlying causes for
the way that people behave as they do. It also fits psychology because it
shows the self as a dynamic, unique entity, and allows for the differences
which exist between individuals in our society.
DATA COLLECTION
To collect my data I used a recorder while I was driving and spoke
out loud while driving.Κ Before I left my parking space I noted my feelings
thoughts.Κ Then as I drove away I noted my actions and any thoughts that I
had as I drove. I commented on the traffic, the weather and whether or not
I had gas in my tank.Κ I made a point to examine my feelings every 3-4
minutes (or more if possible) so that I had at least two references to
my feelings as I drove. During the second week, I focused on my thinking,
and I continued recording my feelings and actions like the first week.Κ
I would try to change my negative thoughts to positive.Κ For the data
which involved negative towards self, I began by writing down my actions,
thoughts and feelings while I got dressed in the morning. I would pay
attention to my feelings just before I got dressed and there were a couple
of instances when I recorded thoughts an hour before I got ready, which
were relevant to getting dressed that day. After two days of writing
everything down, I started to use the recorder so that my hands would be
free. On the second week I tried to intervene and examine my thoughts
whenever they were negative, even when I decided that I did not feel
like wearing a specific outfit.Κ Choosing an outfit was easier on the days
I had to work, because I have a uniform, but I still found ways to delay
the process.
Her is an example of my records;
|
feeling |
As I get into the car, I am happy that I am leaving early. |
I am calm |
No traffic, so no pressure |
Calm and relieved |
|
|
|
|
|
|
thinking |
"way to go!!It is about time that you leave early |
"let's change the radio |
It is so nice when there is no traffic |
Here I am!1 won't they be surprised to see me arriving early!! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
actions |
Pull out, and proceed |
Change the radio station |
Drive wiithout trying to beat every traffic light |
Park the car, and go inside |
|
|
|
|
|
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ To see all records
BASELINE INTERVENTION
ΚΚΚΚΚ The baseline- intervention is a technique used whenever the goal isΚΚ
to change a pattern of behavior.Κ By monitoring patterns of behavior, weΚΚ
are able to identify the typical negative options that we choose and
during the intervention week it becomes easier for a person to anticipate,
and change the negative variable to see if it affects the other variables.
For the purpose of this report, the variable which is manipulated is
the thinking which is changed in an attempt to change actions and feelings.
The expected result is that thinking will affect actions much sooner than
it will affect feelings.Κ Changing core beliefs, or feelings, takes more
than one try. A person may believe that feelings have changed, when
only thoughts have changed.Κ The bridge technique is the attempt to
change from the negative to the positive option through changing a person's
thinking.Κ By crossing over at the thinking level, a person becomes
aware of the choice which is made whenever actions, feelings and thoughts
are involved. I was not aware of this technique before.
THE "DAILY EMOTIONAL SPIN CYCLE"
ΚΚΚΚΚ Κ The Daily Emotional Spin Cycle is a model of the way in which
the threefold self interacts with the world and with itself.Κ The self
interacts with itself because the way that a person feels, directly
affects that person's thoughts and actions. The self chooses to act in
either a positive or a negative way.Κ These options fall in either the
relation to the world or to the self.Κ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The word "spin" is a perfect illustration of the reality of
the nature of a person's emotions throughout the day. Our emotional
state changes constantly throughout the day and these changes are the
result of the way we feel about, think about, and react to situations which
we encounter during the day.Κ The term "cycle" illustrates the way that
a person's personal reality is directly reflected in the reality of
that person's interactions with others.Κ Our personalities have an effect
on the amount of resistance we have for stress and whether we act
before we think. People develop patterns of thinking or acting that become
"habits".Κ The term habit indicates an action which is so frequently done
that it becomes like "second nature". Because we see these as being
"habits" we do not realize that we make the choice to think, act or feel
the way that we do each time that we choose a particular thought, action,
or feeling. We have the choice of being miserable or happy, and
we do not see that we are able to change from negative to positive by
changing our habits.
ΚΚΚΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ There are some gender differences in the spin cycle in terms
of ease of application.Κ Females tend to be able to recognize their feeling
easier than men do, but may have a harder time controlling their feelings.
Most of the differences in actions are caused by the behavior differences
that are enculturated for the two genders.Κ Boys are taught to be
aqggressive, while girls are taught to be modest. The aggressive qualities
areΚ useful while attempting to change, and the modesty of females can
Κremove the pride which could have allowed a person to deny that change is
needed. The ability to use the concept of the Emotional Spin Cycle to
change, will depend on the individual's desire to change. The unique
qualities that each gender has, will give each an equal chance for success.
Κ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ Daily Rating Scales
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ On the days that I did baseline observations and on the days that I intervened, I used a seven question suvey to evaluate my general level of stress at the end of each day. Just before I went to sleep, I would reflect on my day, I rating my level of satisfaction, dissatisfaction, my coping, my hope for the future, and my overall mood for that day. These scales are useful for causing oneself to reflect on the day.Κ My answers provide insight about any changes which may have ocurred
During the intervention week.Κ Any changes could indicate that by using
the "bridge technique" I was able to improve my overall sense of well being.
These are the questions which I answered at the end of each day:
ΚΚΚΚΚ Give each a rating using these nubers as a guide
ΚΚΚΚΚ 1= very weak; 10= extreme
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 1) What was my overall stress point
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 2) My overall level of satisfaction with myself
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 3) My overall level of dissatisfaction with others
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 4) My overall level of effectiveness or productivity
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 5) My overall level of coping successfully with my feeling
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ ____ 6) My current level of hope for the future
____ 7) What was the worst level of negativity or selfishness of some other people around youΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚ Here is an example of global ratings which I took during the
intervention week:
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 1) 8
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 2) 7
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 3) 1
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 4) 7
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 5) 7
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 6) 8
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ 7) 6
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ Theses ratings are from
I found that by rating myself, I could see whether or not the changes that
I had made during the intervention week had a lasting effect on my mood.
The ratings allow for a comparison between the first and second week.
My ratings revealed that during the first week I had a couple of days which
were not the greatest in terms of my outlook for the future, but I would
be in a pretty good mood anyway. This suggests that I am pretty good at
denying my feelings and allowing for my negative feelings to continue.
During the second week, I had one day of frustration at the start of the
week, but as I applied the intervention, I found that I was more satisfied,
and encouraged at the end of the day.Κ I did have one bad day at the end of
the week, and this was reflected in dissatisfaction, but not in a lack
of hope for the future.ΚΚΚΚΚ ΚΚΚΚΚΚ
Crossing from Negative to Positive
ΚΚΚΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The first week of observations served as the baseline of the
project.Κ The second week was the intervention week. For both of the weeks, I did two different activities- one which was an interaction between myself and the world, and the other was an activity which I did alone. For both of the weeks I repeated the same actoivity and took records of my thoughts, feelings, and actions. During the second week, I tried to change the dynamic of the activity by changing my thinking. The first week serves as a guide, alerting myself to possible moments of negative thinking. For example, while I was driving, if I found myself becoming anxious about the cars in front of me, I would note this anxiety and talk myself through it without becoming irate about the drivers of those cars.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ This technique is designed to allow a person to change the negative feelings and actions which are experienced daily, into positive feelings and actions.Κ This is done by focusing on negative thoughts and turning them into positive ones.Κ Focusing on thinking allows a person to change the actions that that person chooses and to change feelings, as well.### If it is possible to change negative feelings to positive ones, then the negative thoughts will be gone permanently.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ When I applied this technique, it was effective in my activity which involved negative interactions with myself, which was getting dressed before leaving for school or work. While I was driving its effectiveness
varied. I think that the reason for the differences while driving was whether or not I left for work on time.Κ I had a hard time controlling my thoughts when I was late for work.Κ On one of the days during the second week I left early, so I did not have as much anxiety as the other days. While getting dressed in the morning, I was delayed by choosing an outfit to wear to school.Κ During the second week I gave myself a little extra time so that I could concentrate on applying the bridge technique.Κ This extra time helped to reduce my anxiety. On the days that I had to work, I found it easier to choose what I was going to wear, but I had to work on allowing enough time so that I could leaveΚ my house earlier.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ While I was driving, I would sometimes forget to say my thoughts out loud when they were negative.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ On Monday, when I was getting ready for work, I started to worry whether or not I had any bills to send out.Κ This was forty- five minutes before I was supposed to be at work, and I had to apply the bridge technique to change this thinking which would delay my leaving for work.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The resistance that I had while driving, I feel is due to the nature of driving, itself.Κ Whenever a person is driving, the scene is constantly changing and the senses are on full alert.Κ This increased awareness causes a heightened response which is quick acting and not always rational. I am not confrontational while driving, but I do swear while I drive.Κ This could be due to the fact that while I am in my car I am isolated from everybody, so nobody can hear me.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The resistance that I experienced while getting dressed is of two types, depending on what I am doing that day.Κ The type of resistance is either "pre-work" or Pre-school resistance."Pre-work" resistance is a delay brought about by my sudden discovery of a task that I had to do.
I seem to have this idea that I have better things to do besides going to work.Κ I like my job, I am the manager, but I feel unchallenged at times.Κ This negative feeling is the underlying cause of my delay.Κ Whenever it gets too much control, I am late for work, which shows my arrogance towards the job and myself.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The "pre-school resistance that I felt while getting dressed, occured on days that I was going to school.Κ This resistance if founded in the need to be attractive.Κ When I was younger, I was extremely vain, and I always thought about my appearance.Κ I have grown out of that vanity but sometimes it comes back.Κ I know that it is important to consider your appearance, but since I am older than the other students, I occasionally obsess over my clothes.Κ I also have gained weight since the first time I went to college, and this fact crept in and clouded my mind while I was getting dressed.Κ During the intervention week I focused on my negative thoughts, instead of trying to ignore them, as I had previously done without success.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ If I were to teach this to a friend or family member I would try to have them understand the concept first, and then give an example of a time when the bridge technique worked for me. Next, I would ask them to think of a time when they have responded negatively to a trivial situation.Κ Then, I would ask them to focus on their thinking and emphasize the false negative idea that they held.Κ Hopefully, that person would be able to see how easy it would have been to change their thinking, which would have changed their actions as well.
SUCCESS
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The concept of "The Emotional Spin Cycle" is a complex system which can be used to change thought patterns. The four options diagram is a visual aid which serves as a map of the options that the three-fold self ha to chose from.Κ The complexity is in the application of the concept to personal situations- which are sometimes easier to ignore than to confront. Success starts with an open mind and is facilitated by an ability to recognize personal misgivings and a desire to improve the self.
HAPPINESS AND PERFECTION?
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ This technique is not to be used to become perfect because humans are not perfect creatures. But the technique is useful if the goal is contentment.Κ People who do not succeed with this technique are most likely not ready to be totally honest with themselves.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The Emotional Spin Cycle concept is limited somewhat by the fact that humans are creatures that think too much.Κ The competitive nature of survival contributes to the tendency that humans have for comparing themselves to others.
DISCUSSION
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ From this project, I have learned that the three-fold self is truly a part of myself.Κ I have learned that my negative thoughts should not be ignored because they are a result of negative feelings.Κ These feelings result from the expectastions which I had for my life and the despair that I have feolt at not reaching these expectations.Κ I have learned that to be able to attempt to change my life, I need to let go of the past and proceed. I have previously dealt with my negative thoughts by denying them, but this method allows the negative feelings to remain and to continue to influence my life in a negative manner.Κ I learned to challenge the negative thoughts to expose the negative feelings which lay beneath the surface.Κ I have observed my negative thoughts causing me to behave in a negative way.
MECHANICS
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The vocabulary of the "four option diagram" helped me to identify the feelings that underlie my thoughts and actions.Κ When I first looked at the diagram, I was put off by the term- arrogance.Κ I wondered how that term could ever be a part of myself, as I see myself as a modest person. I am the first to admit whenever I am wrong. But I would come to understand how arrogance plays a role in my life. I was washing dishes with Oprah in the background. Dr. Phil was on that day dealing with various problems that people in the audience were asking about. I started to pay attention when Dr Phil began to discuss the unrelenting tardiness of a man who was in the audience.Κ I zeroed in on Dr. Phil when he said that the guy was arrogent and this caused him to be late alkl the time.Κ How could this be? I am late for work a lot, but I am not arrogant!!!Κ So that week in class we discussed the role that arrogance plays in making a person late, and I began to look at the issue differently. I realized that if lateness is a sign of arrogamnce, I could see myself in the reflection of this arrogance towards myself, a self-critical person. I realized that arrogance turned inward is reflected as negative feelings about the self. I am frequently have negative thoughts concerning myself andΚ the fact that I did not finish college the first time around. The spin cycle illustrates how negative feelings towards the self are reflected as the same feeling towards others and the world, as well as negative feelings towards others and the world are reflectedas negative feelings towards myself. So, my lateness can be connected to arrogance!!
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ How exactly is arrogance towards others the same as negative feelings towards ourselves?Κ Let me explain; whenever we are negative towards others; we see them as being less than ourselves.Κ When arrogance is turned inward we see the self as being less than "ideal self" or as not "good enough".Κ This realization has allowed me to examine the negative effect of arrogance on several areas of my life.Κ I see that paying bills late, or returning library books after their due dates, is a manisfestation of my negative feelings towards myself- reflected as arrogance towards others. Now that I know the dynamic relattion between my fellings, thoughts and actions, I believe that I can free myself from negative feelings which have held me back thus far.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The examples of positive blue feeling, acting and thinking were
helpful to me because I used them to chsang emy view of various situations throughout the day.
STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES
I have discovered that I am not afraid to address my negative thoughts and that I am strong enough to soucceed at eliminating my negative feelings. I have been fighting these negative feelings for quite awhile, and I have not allowed them to take over.Κ The weakness lies in the method that I was using to overcome these feelings.Κ By seeing myself as the three-fold self, I am able to focus on the areas which need to be changed.
WHAT ABOUT EVERYBODY ELSE?
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ I feel this technique would benefit teenagers because they may have an easier time identifying their feelings because they are so close to
the surface during adolescence. Teens are trying to understand themselves, so they may be more open to introspection than adults are.Κ This technique could also bvbenefit teens, by showing them that happiness does not come from success itself, but from accepting oneself.Κ Adults who try this technique will have to be able to examine thaemselves.Κ A person who is stubborn will not be able to use this technique.Κ
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ The general public could grasp concept of the "Spin zCycle", but may not be successful in its application to their personal lives. The major requirement of this concep is time, and the idea itself is easy to confuse with a simpler tactic.Κ If the technique was changed to make it more accessible to the general public, it would lose some of its effectiveness.Κ
WORK AND SCHOOLS
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ In the workplace, the "Spin Cycle" could be taught to improve employee cooperation.Κ Leaders could also benefit from the technique.Κ
By using the red bridge, work force productivity can be improved in all industries. In schools, it should be taught to teens as a way to help them to understand themselves. This concept could have a positive influence on their futures.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ G-15
ΚΚΚΚΚ I felt that the G-15 reports were informative and provided useful examples for me to use as a guideline.
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ WORKS CITED
ΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚΚ Murphy, Dr. Joseph. The Power of Your Subconscious Mind. Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J., 1963.ΚΚΚ
Κ