Selfishness and the inability to express feelings can have profound psychological roots and significant impacts on individuals’ lives. Attachment theory suggests that early bonds with caregivers play a crucial role in shaping individuals’ attachment styles, such as secure, anxious, and avoidant, which influence their self-esteem, trust in others, and ability to express feelings and engage in meaningful relationships .
These attachment styles can result in emotional instability, jealousy, and lack of trust within relationships, affecting individuals’ social interactions and emotional well-being.
Physical exercise has been identified as a factor that can positively impact psychological well-being, behavior, and cognition, potentially influencing individuals’ ability to express feelings and engage in selfless behaviors (T. Archer).
This indicates that lifestyle factors, in addition to psychological ones, can affect emotional expression and social behavior.
Hierarchy and social rank, in terms of power and status, can also shape emotional experience, expression, and responsiveness. Lower-ranking individuals may struggle to express their feelings due to experiencing more negative emotions, adapting their emotional expressions to the social context, and being more attuned to others’ emotions, which can hinder their ability to engage in authentic emotional expression (van Kleef).
Some individuals may be unable to express their feelings due to traumatic events like perinatal loss.
Virtual reality-based interventions have been developed to help mothers cope with grief and psychopathology symptoms by facilitating the expression and acceptance of their loss in a virtual environment, highlighting the role of innovative therapeutic interventions in addressing emotional expression difficulties (G. Corno et al.).
Emotion regulation strategies, such as suppression, can impair memory and increase physiological responding, negatively impacting individuals’ lives.
Those who rely on suppression as a coping mechanism may find it challenging to express their feelings adequately, leading to strained relationships and emotional distress (J. Gross).
Art interventions, like the Suzhou folk art for patients with mood disorders, have shown to improve emotional expression and mental health, suggesting that creative therapies can be effective in overcoming barriers to emotional communication and reducing selfish behavior (Yanhua Zhang and Huaihong Ta).
Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions, has been linked to various mental and physical illnesses, significantly impacting the quality of life, especially in severe medical conditions like end-stage renal disease (S. Pucheu et al.). This highlights the intersection between emotional expression difficulties and physical health outcomes.
To navigate the complex terrain of emotional expression and overcome selfish behavior, consider the following tips rooted in psychological research and therapeutic practices:
- Explore Attachment Styles: Understanding your attachment style can provide insights into your emotional expression patterns. If you tend to be anxious or avoidant, consider therapy or self-help strategies aimed at developing a more secure attachment style.
- Incorporate Physical Activity: Regular physical exercise not only benefits your physical health but also improves psychological well-being and emotional regulation. Activities like yoga and mindfulness-based exercises can be particularly effective in enhancing emotional awareness and expression.
- Reflect on Power Dynamics: Be mindful of how power and status within your relationships may influence your emotional responses and expressions. Striving for more egalitarian relationships can help create a safe environment for open emotional communication.
- Seek Creative Outlets: Engage in art therapy or creative activities, such as painting, writing, or music, to explore and express your emotions in a non-verbal way. These activities can be particularly helpful for those who find it hard to articulate their feelings.
- Embrace Emotional Education: Educate yourself on emotional intelligence and emotion regulation strategies. Learning about different emotions, how they manifest, and healthy ways to express them can empower you to manage your feelings more effectively.
- Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: These practices can increase your awareness of your emotional states and improve your ability to express your feelings in a calm and controlled manner.
- Build a Supportive Network: Surround yourself with people who understand and support your journey towards better emotional expression. Support groups or therapy groups can provide a safe space to explore and express your feelings.
- Consider Professional Help: If you’re struggling with expressing your emotions or dealing with selfish behavior, a psychologist or licensed therapist can offer personalized strategies and support to address your specific needs.
- Embrace Vulnerability: Learn to see vulnerability as a strength rather than a weakness. Sharing your feelings with others can deepen your connections and reduce feelings of isolation.
- Reflect on Early Life Adversities: Recognize how experiences from your early life may impact your current emotional expression and behavior. Therapy can be particularly beneficial in processing these experiences and developing healthier emotional habits.
In summary, selfishness and the inability to express feelings are influenced by a complex interplay of psychological, social, and physiological factors. Addressing these challenges through therapeutic interventions, lifestyle changes, and supportive social environments can have a positive impact on individuals’ emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships.
References :
- Archer, T. (2016). Physical Exercise and its Impact on Psychology. Journal of Psychology & Psychotherapy, 6(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2471-2701.1000E104
- Corno, G., Bouchard, S., Baños, R., Rivard, M.-C., Verdon, C., & deMontigny, F. (2020). Providing Psychological and Emotional Support After Perinatal Loss: Protocol for a Virtual Reality-Based Intervention. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 1262. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01262
- Gross, J. J. (2002). Emotion regulation: Affective, cognitive, and social consequences. Psychophysiology, 39(3), 281-291. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0048577201393198
- Pucheu, S., Consoli, S., Français, P., Issad, B., & d’Auzac, C. (2004). The Relationship of Quality of Life with the Severity of Disease and Non-Expression of Emotions in Peritoneal Dialysis. The Journal of Psychology, 138(6), 568-577. https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/089686080402400112
- van Kleef, G. A. (n.d.). How hierarchy shapes our emotional lives: effects of power and status on emotional experience, expression, and responsiveness.
- Zhang, Y., & Ta, H. (2023). The intervention effect of Suzhou folk art on patients with mood disorders in vocational art education. CNS Spectrums, 1-3. https://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1092852923004029