Experiential
Emotions are signals produced by the affective system, which
integrates information from diverse sources and provides important feedback
about the adaptiveness of specific behaviors. In psychopathology this feedback
mechanism is disrupted or distorted, resulting in a disconnect in the feedback
system, where the affective signal is not interpreted appropriately and
maladaptive behaviors ensue. Treatment consists of recognition and acceptance
of the affective signal (the emotion) and its adaptive integration with
cognition and behavior.
Emotional processing represents an information processing system providing
adaptive, primarily tacit (i.e., pre-conscious or unconscious), information
about the organism's functioning, and preparing the organism for activity
(e.g., fight or flight). In order to function effectively, that is, to
satisfy the real, authentic needs (both basic biological and more complex
social needs) of the organism, emotions must be recognized and fully-experienced
by the (conscious) cognitive mind. Such recognition and experiencing allows
two processes to take place: 1) it provides access to the implicit information
about organismic needs, and 2) it allows cognitive insight and the creation
of symbolic representations which provide a means of more effective satisfaction
of these needs in the future through planning etc. Theorists differ in
how much importance they give to cognitive activity in defining the emotional
experience; that is, to what extent does cognition influence the nature
of the felt emotion? Does the organism first become aware of an implicit
"feeling" and then constructs a symbolic representation (the
phenomenological view of Gendlin),
or does the organism contribute to the meaning through symbolic interpretations
based on prior cognitive structures (the constructivist view of Wexler)?
If emotions are not attended to, the information they provide about the
basic biological needs is not used and the affective system is not fully
developed (differentiated) to support effective adaptation. Psychopathology
results from not accessing or actively blocking some emotions, thus depriving
the organism of the important information they convey about self and environment.
Treatment focuses on the full experiencing of emotions, which allows the
practice of new behaviors, which then lead to the differentiation of the
emotional repertoire and effective use of this independent information
processing system as a component of adaptive behavior. Some other prominent
theorists within this category are Rogers, Wexler, Gendlin, Perls.
Greenberg and Safran (1987) provide a synthesis of many of these perspectives in their theory of emotions and emotional change in psychotherapy. They identify three types of emotions: primary, secondary, and instrumental. Primary emotions are analogous to the affective evaluations of situations and correspond to the authentic, real needs. (These primary emotions are distinct from the basic emotions discussed in experimental and cognitive psychology). Secondary emotions are emotions resulting from primary emotional reactions (e.g., anger may be the result of fear) or from cognitive appraisals. Instrumental emotions are patterns of behavior used to manipulate others. Greenberg and Safran suggest that only primary emotions should be the focus of psychotherapy and that primary emotions are the key to successful psychotherapeutic change. In addition to their categorization, Greenberg and Safran provide a systematic treatment of the central role of affect in clinical work.
Greenberg and Safran, 1987.