Emotion Regulation & Motivation

It is easy to wonder after you have been involved in a particularly unhelpful emotional response to a situation what emotions are for, and in what way they can possibly benefit us. In this workshop, we will unravel the brain’s response to emotion – what it is for, its benefits, and how best to make these responses work for us.

We will distinguish between expressed and regulated emotion and learn how to develop a larger emotional repertoire that can provide more flexible behavioural alternatives in emotive situations.

We will also consider the connection between emotion and motivation. Our motivation is highly dependent on our emotional state. By considering the way in which the brain uses emotions to determine whether to approach or avoid a situation, we can investigate the link between emotion and motivation and how to use this more effectively both for ourselves and with others.

By the end of this workshop, you should:

• Understand the role of emotion in our lives.
• Be able to distinguish between expressed and regulated emotions and have tools available to regulate your own emotions when required.
• Understand the benefits of a large emotional repertoire and know how to expand your own repertoire.
• Understand the connection between emotion regulation and motivation.
• Know the difference between approach and avoid modes of behaviour and have tools available to switch between these modes.
• Be able to describe the brain systems involved in emotional regulation and motivation in a manner that is accessible and useful to non-experts.

Please note: This workshop is Module 1 of the Applied Neuroscience Programme and is exclusively open to those who have completed the full 10 day programme previously.

Meet the trainer/s

Ian and Patricia are the co-creators of the 10 day certified programme: Applied Neuroscience