Examining the theory and clinical utility of writing about emotional experiences

Article Abstract:

Health can benefit through writing about emotional experiences, but the clinical utility of this finding must be evaluated through systematic research before being applied to treat individuals with severe health problems. Research carried out by James W. Pennebaker focused on people suffering from stress and did not take into account initial differences in health status or distress levels. Beneficial health gains can be made by writing about experiences already discussed with others as much as writing about experiences not previously revealed. Writing repeatedly about the experience may extinguish negative emotional associations.

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Writing about emotional experiences as a therapeutic process

Article Abstract:

Substantial improvements are made in the mental and physical health of individuals who write about their emotional experiences. People are readily willing to disclose their emotions and most claim the experience of writing about them was valuable, even though the experience upset them at the time. Research shows lowered distress levels, improvements in mood, improvements in the functioning of the immune system and behavioral changes. The benefits of disclosure can be found among people from several Western cultures and can be generalized to include different individuals.

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Early experience and emotional development: the emergence of wariness of heights

Article Abstract:

Infants develop their fear of heights when they fall off the bed the first time. From then on, crawling behavior shows a marked carefulness brought about by the recently acquired fear. Four experiments present evidence which proves that locomotor experience (i.e. crawling) leads to the development of acrophobic tendencies. These results contradicts the previously held theory that wariness of heights is innate or under maturational control.

Psychological aspects, Research, Fear in children, Childhood fear, Emotional maturity, Phobias

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