Beyond Happiness: The Upside of Feeling Down

Abstract

Popular belief suggests that the vast majority of Americans have a pessimistic outlook

on the effects that: anger, embarrassment, and sadness have on a person. In the article,

“Beyond Happiness: The Upside of Feeling Down,” author Matthew Hutson discusses how

such emotions are known to produce unpleasant feelings, as we suppress them, medicate them,

and criticize ourselves for experiencing them (Hutson). The purpose of this report is to

discuss how these emotions can actually prove beneficial for the success, survival, and

growth of humans. Methods used in this report include psychological studies, the life experiences

of others, and educational research from reputable universities. Results from Hutson's studies

and findings demonstrated that that one must endure all facets of emotional responses, so that life

can be experienced its entirety. And once these emotions are acknowledged and experienced, can

one truly begin to grow, succeed, and change in to a happier, more fulfilled version of oneself.

Thesis

In his research, Hutson indicates that emotions are not positive or negative, but that they are rather important, rational

tools for the survival and welfare of humans (Hutson). Hutson discusses how these “negative emotions” are not really detrimental to humans, as

they have the potential to motivate individuals to learn valuable life lessons that encourage growth, change, success, and direction. In fact, in order

to feel good and live optimally with ourselves and others, Hutson proposes that we must experience every emotional state in its entirety as nature

intended(Hutson). Often times, the roles and purposes of emotions are misunderstood.

Perceiving Anger as a Threat

According to Hutson, anger occurs when we are made to feel undervalued (Hutson). We perceive someone to be a threat if they

underestimate our worth, and retaliate by wanting to hurt that person in some way. In his research, psychologist Aaron Sell proves how strong men

and attractive women become more easily agitated than their counterparts, as they have had the most power over time to cause harm and

withhold benefits (Hutson). "The primary benefit of anger for an individual," Sell says, "is preventing oneself from being exploited" (Hutson).

Positive Effects of Anger

Anger can appear like a complete loss of control emotion, but this consequently results in an individual taking action to

get what they want (Hutson). While some “negative emotions” can cause an individual to avoid situations, anger makes an individual face his or

her problem directly (Hutson). Hutson insists that anger can promote confidence, optimism, and risk-taking especially when there is loss at stake,

and that it indicates to others that you have the resources to resolve issues independently (Hutson).

Not only can anger benefit an individual, it can also encourage greater social responses such as fairness, justice, boldness, and clarity

(Hutson). Hutson claims that without anger, your voice may never be heard, and that this results in never getting your own needs accounted for.

Understanding Embarrassment

Embarrassment is another emotion whose effects are often misunderstood, but whose benefits prove to be significant. Llona de Hooge had a

difficult time adjusting into her new role as Assistant Professor of Psychology. “I really thought I was doing very well, but in the end I was failing

completely. It felt as if I couldn’t do anything right, that I was completely worthless”(Hutson). However, after a few weeks, Hooge stated how her

experience, “motivated me to start looking for a different type of job where I could succeed” (Hutson). Hooge’s efforts resulted in her favor, and she

is now the Marketing Professor at Erasmus University where she studies shame, guilt and embarrassment (Hutson).

Shame, guilt, and embarrassment teaches humans how to act respectively around one another without violating social and moral norms,

such as farting in public or punching people in the nose (Hutson). Shame, guilt, and embarrassment also creates self-consciousness in a person.

Situations that make a person feel uncomfortable, leads one to reexamine what led to such a state, and what he or she needs to do in order to

make amends with oneself (Hutson). In order to rectify how embarrassment, guilt, or shame made you feel, you either try to avoid humiliation, or

offer to help others (Hutson). Researchers find that, you become more generous and cooperative, even with strangers (Hutson).

Key Findings

Psychologist Dacher Keltner of the University of California, Berkeley reports, that there are also involuntary responses to shame and

embarrassment such as blushing, which signals vulnerability and serves positive purposes: they make people like you better, empathize with you

more, and view you as more ethical (Hutson). In contrast, showing no emotions demonstrates that either one doesn’t comprehend the significance

of a broken norm, or that he or she simply doesn’t care (Hutson). Shame and embarrassment are necessary survival tools, but they also promote

greater opportunities for self and social growth. Without them, no trust would exist between ourselves and others (Hutson).

Sadness Reexamined

Equivalent to anger and embarrassment, sadness too, is another emotion that has a poor reputation in regards to the effects that it can have

on a person. Consequently, it has the potential to motivate change. Hutson provides the real life example of Barbara Perry, to illustrate this idea.

Barbara’s son, Flicka, was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, when a driver went off the road and killed him instantaneously. After her incredible loss,

Barbara channeled her grief into setting up a fund drive for her son, and also organized an annual two week backpacking trip on the same stretch

of road where he was killed (Hutson). Barbara summarizes that, "particularly when there's a senseless loss, there is such a need to make

something positive come from it" (Hutson).

Hutson suggests that sadness is a response to a real or potential loss, and that healing is needed (Hutson). This ultimately results in change,

and different experiences dealing with sadness promote different ways in which to restore it. In one study, subjects imagined losing a loved one to

cancer or failing to achieve an important goal, and then listed all of the things they would like to accomplish (Hutson). Results showed that those

who felt a relationship loss outlined most social activities, and those who felt failure listed more work-related activities (Hutson). Hutson proposes

that we try to make sense of our heartbreak, in order to move forward. Hutson offers the idea that sadness allows one to be more logical and

rational. It also makes one more aware of social norms, increasing politeness and fairness (Hutson). In comparison, Hutson indicates that

happiness can result in superficial thinking, arrogance, and risk taking (Hutson).

Greater Social Implications of Sadness

Sadness offers greater social implications, as it warns others that we need help. Crying, some scientists believe, makes facial displays of

sadness unclear (Hutson). Depression, defined as a state of prolonged sadness and hopelessness, is considered a disorder (Hutson).

Alternatively, sadness can be a positive response to challenging life situations (Hutson).

Conclusions

Overall, Americans are skeptical on the effects that anger, embarrassment, and sadness have on a person. Hutson proposes that most

Americans have the wrong idea about these emotions, and demonstrates how they alternatively offer many benefits for oneself as well as to

others. Through Hutson’s studies and findings, he recommends that one must endure all facets of emotional responses, so that life can be

experienced its entirety. Once these emotions are acknowledged and experienced, can one truly begin to grow, succeed, and change in to a

happier, more fulfilled version of oneself.

https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201501/beyond-happiness-the-upside-feeling-down