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follow the example of David in pouring out our Barre� (2006) states that there is " … accumula�ng
hearts, or encouraging our clients and students to evidence that the experience of emo�on can have
pour out their hearts before God? We know that great consequence for subsequent thoughts, deci-
the Lord emphasizes a heart-based view of humani- sions, and behaviors… People use knowledge to
ty (1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 37:4, Romans 8:27). What parse and conceptualize the bo�om-up informa�-
does it look like to assure uprightness and faithful- on that is sensorially given” (p. 20). She also states
ness in emo�on life before Him? that, “it becomes clear that some people make ca-
A Psalm 73-based interven�on model to strengthen tegorical dis�nc�ons, characterizing their experi-
student emo�on fluency competence is offered la- ences in discrete emo�on terms, whereas others
ter in this wri�ng. This is a pa�ern to build on in ex- characterize their experiences in broad, global
amining and pouring out the mo�va�on and emo�- terms”. She labels this “emo�onal differen�a�on”
on of our hearts before the Lord, in encouraging and “emo�onal granularity” (p.24-25). According to
our students, and in empowering clients to do the Barre�, “Clearly defining emo�on states and giving
same. Yet before looking at this model, this paper specific labels to feelings (categoriza�on), gives the
reviews some of the research and trends in the individual greater capacity to become aware of a�-
affec�ve sciences field and provides a resource that tudes and possible misperceived meanings that
will assist in categorizing and defining emo�onal may affect their view of the world” (p. 21).
experience. Clinton et al. (2005) have focus on the importance
of emo�on awareness in chapters dedicated to the
The Importance of Emo�on Fluency according to topics of anger, forgiveness, trauma, and grief. This
Affec�ve Science Research work also emphasizes the importance of develo-
DeSteno et al. (2013) defines emo�on as, “sets of ping skill in valida�ng and encouraging emo�on ex-
goal-oriented physiological and cogni�ve changes pression in counseling).
meant to lead to adap�ve responding” …Thus, ap-
propriate interven�ons should be targeted to use Emo�on Awareness and Fluency Building Emo�-
affect, whether it is the emo�on that is prototypical on List by Category Table
of individuals confron�ng a specific situa�on or one What might greater emo�on awareness and flu-
evoked as part of the interven�on itself, to shi� the ency bring to life day to day, even to the level of
underlying risk es�mates in a manner that supports affec�ng our worldview? In the Emo�on List by Ca-
and mo�vates the desired health-relevant decisi- tegory Table (see Appendix B), the Self-Interest and
ons and behaviors” (pp. 475, 479). Shame columns list the emo�ons that God clearly
Dysfunc�on in affec�ve processes has been found invites us to turn over to him. These categories are
to be central to much of psychopathology, and indi- both pride-based emo�on lis�ngs as they are diffe-
vidual differences in various affec�ve func�oning rent than what God calls us to experience in His re-
influence various pathologies. “Many psychiatric demp�ve kingdom living. Under the other catego-
disorders are said to be characterized by problems ries, the direc�on of pride or lack of pride can be
with emo�on and emo�on regula�on (es�mates determined by the internal understanding of the
range from 40% to more than 75%...,” (Gross & Ja- applica�on of each emo�on per the individual,
zaieri, 2014, p. 387). According to Moyal et. al through interpre�ve and mo�va�onal framework
(2014), “Emo�ons become dysfunc�onal when of their experience in view of God’s perspec�ve in
they interfere with one’s ability to behave adap�ve- the Bible.
ly, and therefore successful emo�on regula�on Furthermore, the emo�onal defining process up-
(ER), when necessary, is crucial for psychological builds emo�on fluency and allows a reframing of
health. Difficul�es in adap�ve ER are related to these heart concepts to validate and/or release
different psychopathologies” (p. 1). them into the deeper understanding of God’s
In addi�on, “influen�al research on emo�on high- perspec�ve. This includes understanding of self an-
lights both (1) the essen�al func�ons served by d/or other. Augus�ne’s focus on “the Lord’s Prayer”
emo�ons in coordina�ng cogni�ons and behavior in direc�ng emo�onal life to “a vision of true Chris-
and (2) the detrimental consequences associated �an desire” lays an excellent groundwork for this
with ignoring emo�ons” (Goleman, 1995). work (Fogleman, 2022, p. 238-244).
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