Question

Describe a current situation that is emotionally difficult. Explain how you would apply one of the following emotion prevention strategies in dealing with the situation.

Emotion prevention strategies: encounter avoidance, encounter structuring, attention focus, deactivation.

Consider the pros and cons of using the identified strategy.

Answer 1

Most recently, I lost one of my cousin who was very close to me. We grew together and he was killed in a car accident. I couldn’t cope with the loss for a very long time. I use deactivation strategy by trying to make sense of the reality. Desensitizing means to prevent unwanted emotions by systematically desensitizing oneself to that emotional experience. I talk to myself that it’s quite natural for someone to die and only the day is not fixed thus accepting the fact that he is not going to be with me. The good thing about this strategy is that it helps me get along with my daily life without causing much trouble both in terms of thoughts and behaviors. The disadvantage of this strategy is that it makes me indifferent to my emotional bonding to my cousin. It’s like forgetting the entire memory and life I lived with my cousin.

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