INKOVEMA Podcast „Well through time“

#143 – Substitute feelings. A concept of transactional analysis

Substitute feelings are to the world of emotions what prejudices are to the world of ideas.

In conversation with Günther Mohr

Well through time. The podcast about mediation, conflict coaching and organisational consulting.

Contents:

The basics of emotions and feelings: Emotions are functional control processes of our life and the organism's first "signalling system" for changes in the environment. Social feelings are the result of an original learning process that takes place in dialogue with others and through (re)thinking, i.e. reflection. These include feelings of shame and guilt, but also trust and serenity. Complex feelings are the results of reflection processes and therefore evidence of individual awareness and development processes. Fundamentally, however - especially for the work in mediation - four Basic feelings that are particularly relevant in conflicts and conflict resolution. The four basic feelings are fear, anger, sadness and joy. While Fear resp. Fear serves to mobilise strength and energy to avoid danger, anger serves functionally to clear obstacles out of the way. Mourning in turn enables them to let go of what they have grown fond of and to "process" losses. The common function of these feelings is to cope with the problem of adapting to the changed environment.

Transactional analysis distinguishes between authentic feelings and substitute feelings. Authentic feelings are Feelingsthat are appropriate to the situation and spontaneous reactions. Situationally appropriate feelings are those that arise in response to current events and - in a biophysical sense - reduce tension. From a functional point of view, authentic feelings are useful and helpful. They do their job. Substitute feelings on the other hand, are learnt reactions, in a sense a current reaction to past events in which the substitute reaction was learned. This distinction cannot always be maintained in practice, but it conveys the idea that substitute feelings are faulty learning outcomes. Or to put it another way: What used to be appropriate under the circumstances at the time need no longer be so today.

Substitute feelings are therefore attempts to solve past problem situations. They are the stereotypical solution attempts, the dysfunctional but "tried and tested" emotional reactions of today. They cause the very discomfort that is blamed on others in the conflict. In a way, they are the prejudices of the emotional worlds.

Left:

• Basic contribution TA's understanding of feelings and emotions: Basic Feelings / Thinking Feelings / Substitute Feelings. 25 Basics of mediation (18). Emotions and feelings in mediation. 
• Blog post: Substitute feelings in mediation. How a concept from transactional analysis helps mediators to navigate conflict professionally.
• Review on Jan Plamper: History and Emotion, 2012.
• Note: Rob Boddice: History of Emotions, 2019.