The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Compassion and Anger

The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Compassion and Anger

Key findings: Heart-focused, sincere, positive feeling states boost the immune system, while negative emotions may suppress the immune response for up to six hours following the emotional experience. 

Summary: Secretory IgA (measured from saliva samples), heart rate and mood were measured in thirty individuals before and after experiencing the emotional states of either care and compassion or anger and frustration. Two methods of inducing the emotional states were compared: self-induction versus external induction via video tapes. Anger produced a significant increase in total mood disturbance and heart rate but not in S-IgA levels. On the other hand, sincere positive feeling states of care and compassion, self-induced via the Freeze-Frame technique, produced a significant decrease in total mood disturbance and a significant increase in S-IgA levels. Examining the effects over a 6-hour period, we observed that a 5-minute experience of anger produced a significant inhibition of S-IgA from one to five hours after the emotional experience. In contrast, a tendency toward increased S-IgA levels was observed over the six hours following a 5-minute experience of care (Figure 21).

Figure 21.

This graph shows the impact of one 5-minute episode of recalled anger on the immune antibody IgA over a 6-hour period. The initial slight increase in IgA was followed by a dramatic drop which persisted for six hours. When the subjects used the Freeze-Frame technique and focused on feeling sincere care for five minutes there was a significant increase in IgA, which returned to baseline an hour later and then slowly increased throughout the rest of the day.

Results indicate that self-induction of positive emotional states using Freeze-Frame is more effective in stimulating S-IgA levels than previously used external methods. In a previous study, "The effects of emotions on short-term power spectral analysis of heart rate variability" (Entrainment, Coherence and Autonomic Balance section), we observed that feelings of appreciation self-generated by the Freeze-Frame technique shift autonomic nervous system balance towards increased parasympathetic activity. As salivary secretion is primarily activated by parasympathetic nerves, autonomic regulation offers a possible mechanism to explain the immediate increases in S-IgA following the experience of positive emotions. The results of this study indicate that the Freeze-Frame technique may be an effective method to improve mood and minimize the long-term immunosuppressive effects of negative emotions.

The Impact of a New Emotional Self-Management Program on Stress, Emotions, Heart-Rate Variability, DHEA and Cortisol

Key findings: Subjects who used the Cut-Thru and Heart Lock-In interventions for one month significantly reduced their cortisol levels and increased their DHEA. These positive shifts in hormonal balance occurred in conjunction with significant improvements in emotional health, including reductions in stress, anxiety, burnout and guilt, along with increases in caring and vigor. 

Summary: This study examined the effects on healthy adults of a new stress reduction and emotional management program consisting of two key techniques, Cut-Thru and the Heart Lock-In. These techniques are designed to create and sustain shifts in dispositional orientation toward stressors by changing interpretive styles, breaking negative thought loops and extinguishing unhealthy emotional patterns. It is postulated that recurring negative emotional patterns may lead to adverse effects on physiology and well-being through unnecessary and inappropriate activation of the autonomic nervous system and glucocorticoid secretions. This research therefore examined the effects of the Cut-Thru and Heart Lock-In techniques on participants’ emotions, stress, cortisol/ DHEA levels and autonomic nervous system balance. 

read more:http://www.heartmath.org/research/science-of-the-heart/emotional-balance-health.html