Updated July 19, 2022 202 Author: Dmitry Petrov
Hello, dear readers of the KtoNaNovenkogo.ru blog. I am, I am here, I am alive. How do I understand this? Through the reflection of reality by my senses.
For example, right now there is a sound of children’s laughter outside the window. I hear it with my ears. A bright light “hits” my eyes - my eyes see it. Covered with a blanket, I feel warm.
Every sentence talks about sensations - this is what helps us feel here and now.
What is the feeling
Wikipedia says: “ Sensation is a mental process , which is a mental reflection of individual properties and states of the external environment by the subject of internal or external stimuli and stimuli received in the form of signals through the sensory system, with the participation of the nervous system as a whole.”
To put it very simply, sensation is what I feel inside and on the surface of my body in response to some influence.
The following words are most often used as synonyms for “sensation”:
- feeling;
- feeling;
- impression;
- experience from what was seen, heard, experienced, etc.;
- consciousness;
- understanding;
- image.
In psychology, sensation is a process through which we become aware of the different properties of objects in reality. At one moment in time, it is possible to experience only one sensation.
For example, I'll take a cup of hot coffee. I can feel the warmth coming from her, her weight, color, shape, but in turn.
A variety of sensations give a person the opportunity to become aware of himself – his desires and needs (physical and emotional). For example:
- a rumbling stomach tells you that it’s time to eat;
- tension in the jaw, arms and stomach in contact with someone can indicate irritation and even anger, which signals that this someone is somehow violating our boundaries;
- the so-called “butterflies in the stomach” and fluttering in the chest next to a specific individual of the opposite sex (but not necessarily the opposite) “say” that we experience a feeling for him called love.
The intensity of the experience of a sensation depends on the threshold of this sensation. The lower threshold is the minimum strength of the stimulus that causes a response. The upper threshold is the maximum value of the stimulus, after which it ceases to be felt. The difference between the thresholds is the corridor in which the analyzers remain susceptible to influence.
Absolute and relative sensitivity threshold
For many sciences, quantitative indicators of the expression of impressions are important. By measuring them, the sensitivity of the individual and the threshold values of the action of the stimulus are determined.
Threshold is the value of the strength of the stimulus at which a person begins to feel it. Thresholds can be absolute or relative.
The lower absolute threshold is the ability of receptors to respond to weak stimulation. In order for a person to feel the signs of a stimulus, it must have a certain strength.
The upper absolute threshold is the maximum intensity of the stimulus that a person is able to perceive. This is the pain threshold. Examples include pain in the ears that occurs from a very loud sound, or a cutting pain in the eyes from a blinding light.
Upper threshold for light exposure
Relative threshold is the ability to notice a change in the strength of a stimulus.
Attention! Absolute thresholds determine the range of what is accessible to human perception in the surrounding reality
Classification, types
There are several classifications of sensations, let's consider one of them. Its author is Charles Sherrington, a British neurobiologist and physiologist of the 19th century, Nobel Prize laureate in medicine and physiology.
The scientist identified 3 classes of sensations, each of which has its own bodily zone and receptors located on it:
- exteroceptive – we receive these sensations with the help of receptors that “live” on the skin. A person feels warmth, cold, goosebumps, pressure, etc. and thus receives information about the world. If your ears are freezing outside, it means that the air temperature has dropped much below body temperature. Sherington divides this class into 2 more subclasses: contact – arise from the direct impact of an irritant on the body (you are pinched – it hurts);
- distant - are born with distant stimuli. The latter are what we see, hear, feel with our nose.
Types of sensations in this class: tactile, visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, temperature.
Device
The device represents a change in sensitivity during exposure to one stimulus. In this case, sensitivity thresholds will change. Regularities of sensations cannot exist without this property.
So, for example, we adapt by gradually entering cold water. Or we float our feet, getting used to the rising water temperature.
A high degree of adaptation in the receptors of the olfactory and tactile organs. Lower for the receptors of the auditory analyzer.
Adaptation to different aromas occurs at different speeds for everyone. Adaptation to pain may be detrimental to the body, but to a small extent it is inherent to the body.
The receptors of the visual analyzer are responsible for adaptation to light and darkness. Light adaptation does not require high sensitivity, which cannot be said about adaptation.
For adaptation, the relationship between the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex, where the main centers of all analyzers are located, is important. A phenomenon called sequential mutual induction is observed. It is worth noting that adaptation occurs in a conditioned reflex way.
Properties
The property of sensation refers to the specific information (its type) that a person receives. The totality of all properties is conditionally divided into 4 groups :
- modality – quality. Belonging to a specific sensory system (sound modality, visual, etc.);
- intensity - quantity. For example, excessively intense pain is severe pain (a lot of it);
- duration – time. Duration of a particular sensation;
- spatial localization – space. This property gives us information about the location of the stimulus.
Earlier it was said that at a specific moment in time we can experience one sensation, thus reflecting only one property of an object or object. This is normal.
However, there are special people who can feel two or more modalities at the same time. This phenomenon is called synesthesia .
For example, when listening to music, someone may experience visual sensations, certain letters or words may have their own color, taste and even smell.
Suppressed emotions: signs
You may be thinking, “But if suppressing emotions happens almost unconsciously, how can I tell if I’m suppressing them?”
In addition to painful physical symptoms, certain psychological problems are indicators of suppressed emotions. Here are some characteristics of people who have been accustomed to suppressing their feelings for a long time, sometimes from early childhood:
Passion for control
The desire to fully control both your life and the lives of others. The illusion of power over oneself, people and life gives hope that not a single uninvited, unwanted feeling will disturb the inner world of the “controller”.
Self-doubt and self-judgment
As a rule, people who are accustomed to suppressing their feelings grew up in a dysfunctional environment, did not receive the necessary love and experienced rejection. Often in childhood they were deprived of an atmosphere of security and family warmth.
As a result, they entered adulthood with low self-esteem and denial of their own worth. These beliefs remain for a long time, even if the person later achieves a lot.
Deep-rooted feelings of unworthiness and inferiority often manifest as self-doubt. Such people tend to avoid decisive action and devalue their decisions. They are afraid to set goals and make choices, especially if they have made real or imaginary mistakes in the past.
They are also characterized by a tendency to excessive self-criticism: cruel ridicule of their shortcomings, rejection of praise, habitual condemnation of themselves for the slightest mistakes and shortcomings.
Such people find it difficult to accept new things. They immediately, without even delving into the idea and without assessing the new possibilities, say: “I don’t know.”
When meeting new people or finding themselves in an unfamiliar environment, they shy away and try to keep a low profile.
Cynicism and evil irony
Sometimes people who suppress their feelings take a cynical position in relation to the world around them - they criticize everything and everyone, use irony, devalue important concepts, achieving great skill in this.
Cynicism helps them avoid feelings of rejection, resentment and other difficult experiences, because in this way they distract their own attention from themselves and from their internal problems
Promiscuous sexual relations
At first glance, the connection between repressed feelings and sexual promiscuity is not visible. However, many people with low self-esteem struggle to please others and thereby earn love. They look for love not where it can be received, and not from those who are able to give it.
Promiscuous sex life is often characteristic of people who were unloved in childhood: as adults, they desperately try to create an atmosphere of security and warmth for themselves.
The cause of promiscuity can also be an unconscious desire to “take revenge” after the breakup of a marriage.
Unexpected outbursts of feelings (increased emotionality)
Ask yourself:
Am I overreacting to the everyday little things in life? Does it happen that when I hear a song, I cry? Does the smell of some perfume bother or confuse me?
Do I have flashbacks or nightmares about difficult past events, such as violence or divorce?
Does it happen that when I see a person or a photograph, I suddenly flush, become numb, or experience deep sadness?
Keep in mind: if you experience strong feelings in response to mild stimuli, it means they want to tell you something. One of my patients told me that she was enraged by the smell of mint. She had the hardest time at Christmas - the smell of peppermint candies (traditional American sweets) followed her everywhere.
What was the matter? While talking about her life, this woman suddenly remembered that as a child she was regularly sexually abused by her uncle. Every time he pestered her in the living room. The girl looked away so as not to see anything, and looked only at the pot of mint that stood on the table next to the sofa.
It is not surprising that the smell of mint awakened deeply hidden feelings in her: anger, bitterness and indignation. Published by econet.ru.
Colbert Don "Deadly Emotions"
If you have any questions, ask them here
PS And remember, just by changing your consciousness, we are changing the world together! econet
Sensations and perception
Sensation and perception are considered inextricably linked.
By perception we understand the mental process of obtaining information about an object through the analysis of a set of different sensations. We can say that perception is a processing process.
Example: I see something small, soft, white, rectangular in shape, light... In the process of perception, the brain actively goes through the options of images stored in memory in order to choose the one that has all the properties. A! It's a pillow! The object was recognized. Recognition does not occur if the object is not in your “database”.
Perception is not an innate ability. From birth, the child gradually learns to distinguish objects - examines, touches, tastes, smells, collecting a complete image in his head. This is a complex process that requires the active work of other mental spheres - memory, attention, thinking, motor skills, emotions.
The importance of sensations
So. Sensations are divided into 3 groups, differing from each other in the location of the receptors that respond to the stimulus. This is the surface of the body, muscles | tendons | ligaments and internal organs.
From a psychological point of view, all types of sensations are important . If a person is mentally and physically healthy, he “hears” his body well, which makes life full and happy. He knows what he wants, what he likes, and what makes him uncomfortable.
As a result, such a person consciously writes the script of his existence. Therefore, she is most often satisfied with herself and her surroundings, and feels happier compared to those who are not familiar with themselves. Namely, sensations give us an idea of ourselves.
Impaired sensitivity impoverishes or distorts a person's experience.
For example, with sensory hypopathy there is a low threshold of sensations: stimuli of different intensities are perceived equally weakly. And with sensory hyperpathy (high threshold) - equally strong. These are physiological diseases.
Psychological insensitivity also occurs as a type of mental defense. This is when a person unconsciously, usually in childhood, decides not to feel.
This is how the child saves himself from negative experiences (victims of abuse, emotional rejection, etc.). As adults, such people may not feel hunger, physical or emotional pain, tolerate the disrespectful attitude of others, be completely dependent on the opinions of others, etc. Therefore, in psychology, a lot of attention is paid to sensations.
Role and functions
So, to understand how valuable feelings really are in our lives, let's take a closer look at the functions they perform.
Communicative
It's difficult to communicate with a person who behaves like a robot, isn't it? Unfortunately, such people are quite common. They are simply unable to notice what is happening to them. The mood is always even, and decisions are made only through intellectualization and analysis. It is almost impossible to form an attachment, both to such a person and to herself.
When communicating with other people, it is important for us to receive a response, that is, a reaction to our words and actions. Then we get to know each other better, get to know each other and get closer
Accordingly, we understand how best to behave and what actions it is better to refrain from so as not to destroy the established intimacy. We convey information about our condition, opinion, attitude towards something. This reaction can be verbal or non-verbal, using facial expressions and gestures. If it is present, it can be argued that all participants in the dialogue were in contact. Instead of experiencing complete indifference to the process.
Regulatory
This feature helps reduce the level of emotional arousal. For example, under extremely strong stress, when it becomes unbearable, a person simply bursts into tears. And crying can last for a long time until the body releases what has been accumulated and not expressed.
This ensures vitality, otherwise the body would quickly wear out and fail. Burnt out. Just imagine a pot of soup on the fire, which was closed tightly with a lid, preventing steam from escaping. After some time, the contents will come out through the top.
Therefore, give yourself the opportunity to experience the feelings that arose. You shouldn’t hide them, hold them and accumulate them. Sooner or later, you will still reset them, but only with more dire consequences. Especially if in the heat of passion, when a person simply loses control over himself.
Reflective
Allows you to evaluate current events to understand whether they are beneficial or not. They can cover the entire body in order to react in time to a threatening situation. It’s not for nothing that we experience fear; it allows us to survive. Otherwise, in its absence, we would do crazy things without thinking about the consequences.
Incentive
Motivate to achieve. Let's say a person experiencing envy understands that he wants to have the same thing that his friend has. With constructive envy, he will begin to take actions that will provide him with what he strives for. Be it buying something material, or developing some qualities and skills. By the way, you can learn more about this from the article located here.
Reinforcing
Events that turned out to be significant for a person can cause a very strong reaction and remain forever in memory. It is then that we can passionately fall in love with some profession or suddenly cool down on our activities or hobbies.
Switchable
It happens that at the same time an individual is concerned about several needs, which in their importance can compete with each other. So, based on sensations, you can determine which one is key in a given period of life, and switch to it.
