http://Vir: Journal of modern education review. ISSN 2155-7993. – Vol. 8, no. 6 (jun. 2018), str. 471-477 –Štefanija Jaksetič Dujc,
Do we need to redefine concepts of emotions and
explore new techniques for its research?
Abstract
The research is focused on the history of scientific works and articles that define emotions.
The concepts of emotions were selected from contemporary theories of psychotherapies and
were used in new scientific questionnaire for the differentiation of self.
An overview of the history of research on the subject of emotion in scientific literature
suggests a strong increase in research in this field, especially after the year 2000 and it also
finds a deeper diversification of emotions and concepts.
The questionnaire on the subject of emotions that we studied is a newer multi-level and multi-
dimensional questionnaire for emotions (Skowron & Friedlander,1998; Skowron & Schmitt,
2003). The questionnaire is based on Murray Bowen’s theory of family systems. Thus, the
survey also includes a more detailed overview of the basic concepts of emotion in Bowen
family system theory and seeks to find similar concepts in Relational marriage and family
theory as well as in Emotionally Focused Theory.
This paper raises some guidelines for further research on the topic of redefining emotions and
for further use of the questionnaire for the differentiation of self in therapy.
Key words: emotions, feelings, intergenerational transfer, behaviour, genogram,
differentiation of self.
Introduction
This paper examines the need to redefine concepts of emotions and to explore new techniques
for its research, mainly from the field of counselling and therapy. During therapeutic work
with couples, families and individuals, it is often vital to understand the importance of balance
in maintaining both independence and dependence equally between two partners or familymembers. That is why we have to consider establishing clearer definitions of emotions mainly
focusing on meaning, recognition and distinction of emotions mostly in interpersonal
relationships. We also wonder how to recognize and distinguish emotions and by doing so
influence the quality of interpersonal emotional connections (Jaksetič Dujc, 2015a, 2015b)
The chosen concepts of emotions are based on more current systemic family theories, for
example: Murray Bowen’s theory of family systems, Relational marriage and family theory
and Emotionally Focused Theory and Therapy. The research concludes that in the theoretical
part all three theories use explicitly or implicitly similar emotional concepts and
interconnections. It is assumed that theories follow the multi-level emotional monitoring of an
individual or a family. Because the questionnaire for the differentiation of self follows
different emotional levels and their connections with significant others, we can conclude that
it is suitable for detecting more complex emotional connections in interpersonal relationships
and for practical use in therapy.
….
