TresSugar

Are People With Sensitive Noses More Empathetic?

TresSugar — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 11:00:00 -0700

Are you cursed and blessed with a good sense of smell? Cursed because you smell every ungodly stink no matter how far away, and blessed because lovely smells affect you deeply?

Psychology professor Denise Chen at Rice University thinks you may also be more empathetic than your olfaction-challenged neighbor.

Sense of smell and emotions come from the same area of the brain (the limbic system), and Chen set out to test their connection. In an experiment with 22 pairs of dorm-dwelling women, Chen asked them all to sleep in identical t-shirts. The next morning, she presented each person with three t-shirts: one worn by her roommate, and two others worn by other people in the dorm. The women who were able to identify their roommates' t-shirts by smell alone also scored high in emotional tests.

"The olfactory brain overlaps with the emotional brain," said Chen, "and is believed to have contributed to its evolution." Do you have a good sense of smell or wish you did?

A Joke Can Cure a Bad Mood - But Why May Surprise You

TresSugar — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0700

We all know that when we're in a bad mood, a joke can temporarily lift our spirits. But Dutch researchers set out to figure out precisely why. And although you may think, as many researchers do, that it's because positive emotions counteract negative ones - the researchers set out to prove that it's more than that.

They showed a group of men and women a series of pictures. First, they were shown negative images, and then two kinds of positive stimuli - funny and nonfunny. More people said that their moods were lifted by the funny stimuli (the jokes) than the merely positive stimuli.

The reason, according to the researchers, is in the actual cognitive work it takes for us to "get" a joke. Take this joke, for example. A terrified father calls a doctor and tells him, "Doctor, my child just swallowed a fountain pen!" When the doctor tells him he'll rush right over and asks, "What are you doing in the meantime?" The father replies: "Using a pencil."

Figuring out the punch-line is the kind of distraction that can make us feel better. "What they are suggesting is that humor," says Ed Dunkelblau, PhD, a psychologist and past president of the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor, "is an effective way to redirect anxiety."

So let's toast to (corny) jokes that make our brains work a little harder!

Do You Cry Easily?

TresSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 04:00:00 -0700

It was reported that singer Lily Allen suddenly started crying onstage at a concert over the weekend in Helsinki, Finland. She told the audience that the pain meds she was on for a nasty fall were making her wonky.

I hardly cry at all now - except during the rare PMS-induced crying jags that can be prompted by anything, including cute pictures of kittens or over-the-top romantic movies. But I did have what you could call a crying phase. Between high school and moving away to college, I was nervous, excited, on edge - and would cry at the drop of a hat. I've always been glad that I never broke down and cried at work; I hear this is a no-no professionally.

The thing with crying, though, is that you usually can't control it once it starts! Do you cry easily? Have you ever regretted crying somewhere you wish you hadn't?

How You Think of Time Can Reveal Angry Disposition

TresSugar — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:51:56 -0700

Researchers have concluded that how you perceive time – either actively or passively - can reveal whether you are quick to anger or tend to be placid.

In one test, they asked participants if they were told a Wednesday meeting were moved forward two days, which day would it now be on? Those who said Friday, according to researchers, saw themselves as moving through time (in other words, actively) and were more likely to get angry easily. Those who said Monday were more passive and saw time moving toward them.

In another iteration of the study, the new appointment was either anger-provoking or neutral. If participants were told the new day was the anger-provoking one, they were more likely to describe themselves as moving toward it.

I dunno about this one. I mean, yes, I kind of have a short fuse, but I also value being active rather than passive. What do you think about this study or about studies like this in general?

Are You Into Sensitive Men?

TresSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:00:00 -0700

Pretty much every serious boyfriend I've ever had has been a hidden softie. You'd never know it from the outside, but they tended to be emotionally open when it counted.

Some guys are always emotionally open, though, and like to tell you how they're feeling - a lot. Some even cry freely. I'm with screenwriter/all around Queen of Quips Nora Ephron on the crying business, though:

"Beware of men who cry. It's true that men who cry are sensitive to and in touch with feelings, but the only feelings they tend to be sensitive to and in touch with are their own."

Is this fair? Are you into overtly sensitive men, or are you suspicious of them?

Would You Want to Be 17 Again?

DearSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Zac Efron is all over the place these days promoting his new movie 17 Again. The title alone has got me thinking about my teenage years, and while I have no complaints about my past, I don't think I'd want to relive high school. The carefree lifestyle would be nice, but I could go without the drama and the uncertainty of being a teenager. That's just my opinion though, so do tell, would you ever want to be 17 again?

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Relationship Protocol: Does Your Significant Other Show Emotion Well?

DearSugar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 07:30:00 -0700

Not everyone wears their feelings on their sleeves, but it's important to be able to express yourself when you need a shoulder to cry on, someone to share exciting news with, or someone to vent your frustration to. And while it's a common assumption that women are more emotional than men, guys can be impassioned too. Even if he doesn't cry in front of you, tell me, does your significant other show his emotion well?

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Do Tell: What Does Inauguration Day Mean to You?

DearSugar — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:00:00 -0800

I know today, Inauguration day, means something different to all of us, but it'll most likely be a day we'll all remember for the rest of our lives. It's been a long journey to get here, but now that history has been made, share your feelings about this exciting day with all of us below. No matter what emotions are pumping through your veins, you're not alone!

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Moody Men: How to Deal

DearSugar — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 09:00:00 -0800

We all have our moments, and sometimes the little things can set our mood into a tailspin. Maybe somebody accidentally threw away your bagged lunch at work, or your neighborhood coffee shop ran out of cream, and boom - you're instantly in a bad mood. Stereotypically speaking, women are thought of as the moody ones, but men can be moody too, and there's actually a name for it - irritable male syndrome. It's much less severe than depression or bipolar disorder, but the same roller coaster of emotions apply. One minute he's happy and loving life, and the next, he's sulking and not wanting to talk. This change in mood can be triggered by hormonal fluctuations (just like us!) or stress. To find out more about this condition and to learn what you can do to help, check out the video below from The Today Show.

Do you know any men that suffer from irritable male syndrome?

Group Therapy: Supporting a Grieving Loved One

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 04:00:00 -0800

My boyfriend's very close family member is dying. He is going to see her soon, but it is close to the end. Sadly, he's already seen a lot of his older family members in the same situation. He is the type who holds his feelings in and handles them privately, but I can tell he is suffering. I'm trying to give him time alone without pressuring him to talk, but I feel like I should show some more support even though it's his nature to withdraw.

No one close to me has ever died so I have no experience with this. What's the best way to support him while he is grieving? What should I say? What shouldn't I say?

[EDITOR'S NOTE: To be read more GROUP THERAPY, click here or submit your own question here.]

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