Question

What role do emotions play in psychopathology? What are some ways in which suppression of an emotion might lead to negative health outcomes? Lastly, we often characterize anger as being primarily expressed through violence and aggression; what are some ways anger can be expressed appropriately?

Answer 1

Emotions may play an important role in Psychopatholgy.

Emotions may be affected in certain psychopathology or altered emotional expression may be causative to certain Psychopatholgy and negative health outcomes.

Terms to know :

Alexithymia - inability or difficulty to express ones emotions

Internalizing - blaming oneself for mistakes

Externaling - blaming others for mistakes

Studies have shown that patients who internalize and dont express their emotions have more negative cancer related outcome when compared to those who express emotions and dont internalize.

Studies has also shown that emotional expression is affected in psychological problems like Depression and Schizophrenia which may lead to a poorer outcome in general health coniditions like Hypertension if comorbid with it.

While anger may be expresed as Violence and Agrression, is it not the best way. People who are more aggresive teld to have higher degree of Hypertension and Cardiac problems like Myocardial infarction.

It is important to understand that anger is an emotion and everyone may feel angry at some point of time, but it should be expresed assertively, not aggresively.

Assertiveness is the balace between passiveness and aggresiveness. You acknowledge the other persons point of view and express your point of view and ask for a change while being Assertive.