Managing Emotion Under Pressure

1
Managing Emotion Under Pressure

• Road Rage and Other Pressure Situations

2
What Happens in Emotionally Charged Situations

• Strong feelings build as the situation escalates.
• Attention focuses narrowly on the
  emotion-provoking situation.
• A certain view of the situation locks in.
• Basic concerns become pressing.
• A limited range of alternatives comes to mind.

3

• Immediate action may seem more urgent than it
  really is.
• A provoking action can ignite the tinderbox.
• Action becomes automatic, often not chosen
  consciously.
• Heat of passion serves as an excuse, like
  alcohol.

4
Ways to Exercise Control over the Situation

• Do not contribute to the escalation.
• Slow and quiet things down.
• Consider the broader picture.
• What difference does it make?
• If the issue really is important, how can we give
  it the attention it deserves?
• Consider the situation from the other persons
  point of view.
• She is not (just) yelling at you she is yelling
  for herself.
• Listen harder! Try to understand, not to react.

5

• 4. Try to control impulses to do something to
  provoke, anger, or shame the other person.
• - You may redefine the game by not playing it.
• 5. Practice constructive responses so they
  become automatic.
• Most venting helps to practice rather than to
  purge negative feelings.
• 6. Recognize that we can control actions and
  feelings to a great extent.